The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Time not right for Indian coach, says Prasad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Time not right for Indian coach, says Prasad

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Venkatesh Prasad, who called it a day recently, said at the Cricket Club of India on Tuesday that "the time has not come for an Indian to take charge of the team from Kiwi John Wright."

The 35-year-old who has captured 96 wickets in 33 Tests and 196 wickets in 161 One-day Internationals added, "the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should appoint an Indian as assistant coach of the national team and groom him. The assistant coach should have a Level 3 coaching certificate and should have spent reasonable time coaching first-class teams in India.''

Prasad, who has been with the National Cricket Academy for three years, has completed the Level 3 course and is currently coach of the India under-19 team. He has also worked with the India under-17 team. "I am the only Indian who has the Asian Cricket Council's High Performance coaching certificate. I will be leaving for London soon and attending the ECB's Level 3 course in early May. I want to be a coach and I am exploring the possibilities of getting an opening with a County team in England.''

Asked as to who should succeed Wright, he said: "I would personally opt for Greg Chappell. He would bring in a fund of knowledge, is broadminded, open to ideas, has a fantastic brain, and would crack the whip if necessary."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport