|
I
know a thing or two about India: Greg Chappell
By
Omar Khalid
Indo-Asian News
Service
Dubai,
Sep 23 (IANS) Former Australian captain Greg Chappell is looking
forward to playing an "exciting" role for the benefit
of his team during the four-match Test series against India
for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The
former India coach is part of the Australian squad as an assistant
coach and intends to use his vast Indian experience for the
benefit of the Aussies, who are looking to defend the trophy
in India.
"It
is exciting. I mean I know a thing or two about the conditions
in India and hope our team, especially the young members will
benefit from it," Chappell told IANS in an interview
at the Dubai Duty Free, where he was shopping while in transit.
Chappell
was the India coach from 2005 - 2007 and still works with
the Rajasthan Cricket Academy and that makes him an Australian
with loads of Indian experience.
Chappell
is aware that he has an important job to do as only four men
in the Australian squad have played a Test in India -- Ricky
Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich.
And he is expecting the series to be a big challenge for the
Australians.
On
a different issue, Chappell urged the world cricket community
to step forward and help save Pakistan going into international
isolation following top teams' refusal to tour the country
because of security fears.
"What
is happening in Pakistan is very saddening," he said.
"Blasts can happen anywhere in the world these days but
Pakistan is sort of a different case. There is too much happening
there and it's quite a dangerous place to visit," he
pointed out.
Pakistan
cricket is crying out for help following a disappointing first
nine months of 2008 in which top teams like Australia, South
Africa, West Indies, England and New Zealand have refused
to tour the country, citing security fears.
Australia
refused to tour Pakistan earlier this year to play a series
scheduled by International Cricket Council's (ICC) future
tour programme, dealing a severe blow to Pakistan and leaving
them without a single Test in 2008. Another major blow came
last month when the ICC was forced to postpone the Champions
trophy till next October after five of the eight competing
teams refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.
Chappell
said that he had a lot of sympathy for Pakistan but was quick
to add that teams like Australia and New Zealand have realistic
fears about travelling to Pakistan.
"When
New Zealand last toured Pakistan, there was a huge bomb blast
in Karachi. Their players saw severe loss of human life around
them. They were really scared. So are other cricketers,"
he stressed.
Chappell
said that Pakistan should think about other options till the
time the political situation improves there.
"Playing
cricket on neutral venues like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi could
be a practical option," he said.
Indo-Asian
News Service
Prabuddha
Bharata>>>
Vedanta
Kesari>>>
Vedanta
Mass Media>>>
Kundalini Tantra>>>
Swami Gokulananda
"Some Guidelines to Inner Life">>>
|
