'Chappell wanted us to bat first'

NEW DELHI, April 2: On the report appearing in TOI on Monday that senior players had overruled Chappell and chose to bat first against Bangladesh, a senior player said: "It was the players who wanted to field first but Chappell was against that decision. He wanted us to bat first and get some runs on the board. When the team failed to come good with the bat, he started blaming everyone in the team."

"From the beginning of the tour, Chappell kept leaking sensitive dressing room talk to the media despite several requests from the team not to do so. But he was not bothered. When we lost the Bangladesh match, he was reluctant to take the responsibility in the team meetings. Gradually, we started developing a mental distance with the coach," the player complained.

Another key member of the team who didn't wish to named also complained about Chappell leaking information to the media. "It is designed to deflect all blame from him," he said.

"It's really very difficult to play if Chappell continues to be our coach. He is not the best guy for the team. He has got fixed ideas about everything and is not at all flexible. And if anyone differs, he will not take it as an honest difference of opinion, but will hold it against him."

Meanwhile, the BCCI is non-committal on this issue. "How do we know who is lying and who is not till we get the manager and coach's report on April 6?," a top BCCI official told TOI . He added, "On that day, the truth will prevail and I am sure we will be able to decide what is good for Indian cricket."