Chappell's parting shot to stick to rift between seniors, juniors

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Coach Greg Chappell's report to the BCCI will stick to the rift between the senior players and juniors in the Indian team which led to the World Cup debacle, accoring to media reports.

Television channels ran stories quoting sources that the straight-talking Australian's report is expected to talk about ''the coterie of senior players and their negative impact on the team, especially with respect to the team selection and decisions relating to the toss and the batting order.'' It is, however, not likely to target specific player or players.

The issue of sponsorship deals as to how it was impacting team selection will also find mention in the report. Chappell is expected to say that playing eleven was sometimes dictated by commercial rather than cricketing interests.

Sources have also said that Chappell will recommend ''a benchmark for acceptable levels of fitness be introduced. Any player who doesn't measure up should not be included in the team.'' Lack of discipline and foresight are hurting the team as several players skip fitness sessions, the report is expected to say.

With an eye on the future, the focus should be on getting younger and fitter players into the team, it will further say.

The report is also going to suggest to develop a talent pool of young cricketers who are not ad-hoc prodcucts of an ad-hoc system.

NDTV quoted sources close to the coach as saying that in October last year he had warned the cricket board that they had a disaster on their hands but the board did not take the coach seriously at the time.

UNI