Chappell

Islamabad: Describing Greg Chappell as “a good captain and a great cricketer”, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has backed his selection as India’s new coach.

“I am not a great believer in coaches but if a person of great calibre like Chappell is selected, it makes a difference,” Imran told visiting Indian journalists on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by Indian high commissioner Shivshankar Menon in honour of leader of opposition L. K. Advani here Wednesday night.

“He is a good captain and a great cricketer. As far as other coaches are concerned, it’s okay to have your own coaches”, he said.

Asked whether former Pakistan captain and left-arm seamer Wasim Akram would be an ideal choice if India go for a bowling coach, Imran said, “it is for

Imran

Wasim to decide but what I am trying to say is that there is too much emphasis on coaches.”

On Sachin Tendulkar, who will be out of action for almost four months after undergoing a surgery in London recently, he said “I think he has quite a lot of cricket left in him.” Imran also came down heavily on the Pakistan selectors for ignoring Shoaib Akhtar for the Windies tour.

“I always thought it was a blunder. The Pakistani team had overestimated itself. One should never underestimate one’s rivals. You discipline a player on the tour and not by keeping him out of a tour”. (PTI)