The Bulawayo story, Take II

Let us imagine the team had an Indian coach instead. Somebody who understands the Indian psyche, so to say. How would they be reacting to th...

Let us imagine the team had an Indian coach instead. Somebody who understands the Indian psyche, so to say. How would they be reacting to the situation that has emerged in the Indian cricket team? How would they have ensured harmony, if at all, in the Harare Test and in the two important home series, versus Sri Lanka and South Africa? We asked a few notable ex-players to comment. Over to them:

Ajit Wadekar: I would have sat and spoken to the skipper across the table — face to face — and sorted out the issue then and there. Whatever the talks, it is always better to say it on the face and get over with it. Talk it out… dressing room, after the match, whenever… but do it as soon as possible and finish.

Madan Lal: My priority as a coach would be to get the team members together and put their minds back on cricket. I would make the players understand that the need of the hour is strengthen the team bond.

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And, yes, I would ask them to shun the media till the matches are over and keep team happenings within the team. I will discuss cricket with my team and plan for the next Test accordingly. But definitely, I will call on the skipper and in a one-on-one conversation ask him why he made such a statement. I will thrash out the issue and tell him from my side the issue is over. We are professionals and must behave likewise.

Dilip Vengsarkar: Firstly if I were the coach, I wouldn’t have said something like that. Sourav has been appointed captain for the series and — unless he opts to rest himself — he has to continue. I don’t know what has transpired, but I feel such a thing shouldn’t have happened. Now that it has, I would have sorted it out in the dressing room.

Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing 17 women, held in Agra

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A self-proclaimed 'godman' was arrested in Agra for sexual harassment and misappropriation of funds. He was accused of sending inappropriate messages and photoshopping pictures with politicians. The Delhi Police traced him to Agra and froze his accounts and fixed deposits. He was previously booked for harassing 19 women at a private institute.

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