Post-mortem by ex-captains

Speaking to The Indian Express from Mumbai, Prof Ratnakar Shetty said: “Two things will be taken up at the meeting. Firstly, the coach (Chappell) and the manager’s (Sanjay Jagdale) reports, which are to be submitted to the Board president, will be taken up for discussion. And then, the review committee consisting of former captains will be asked to analyse India’s performance in the World Cup and provide their opinion.”

Although the top BCCI official chose not to give out any names, it was learnt through reliable sources that the clutch of former captains to be part of the summit are likely to include Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.

A source close to the BCCI administrative told this daily that special emphasis is going to be given to the tour report to be submitted by Jagdale. It was learnt that the former player-turned-selector has been specifically instructed by the BCCI dispensation to categorically outline each and every player’s “contribution and commitment” in terms of “percentages” and “detailed accounts”.

The source disclosed that the tour manager, who is currently accompanying the team on its way back home, has been instructed to give detailed accounts of how “participative” the players were, specially the seniors, during “pre-match team meetings” and “strategy sessions” during the World Cup. A part of Jagdale’s confidential report, to be initially submitted only to Pawar immediately after the team returns home, is expected to consist of a “table of the names” of the players, with “commitment and contribution percentages” next to their names. That apart, there will be the separate detailed account.

All in all, a stormy session is on the cards considering that Pawar is particularly keen on scrutinising the senior players’ contribution towards the team during the entire Caribbean trip, both on and off the field. The summit will see the Board officials consulting the ex-players in their search for solutions.