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Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes that it is “extremely important” that the coach and captain should have a say in the team selection. Shastri feels that it is not ideal that the captain sits and gives his inputs in the selection committee meeting but does not have power to make the final decision on selection of players as it is up to five-member selection. Moreover, the 59-year-old is not happy with the coach not having a seat in the selection meeting.
"I think it is extremely important that the captain and the coach should have a say in team selection. I think going forward, both should officially have a say. Especially if the coach is experienced enough, like I was and now how Rahul (Dravid) is," Shastri told Star Sports.
On the other hand, teams like Australia and England include the head coach in the selection panel. Shastri wants the coach to be able to see the mindset of selectors.
"It should happen in a meeting - not on the phone or outside - where the captain is there, so that he gets to see the mindsets of the selectors.
"What happens in the meeting when the convenor is there, all the big boys are there – he should be in that meeting," added the former World Cup-winning member.
Shastri’s tenure as India’s head coach ended with the completion of India’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. After Shastri leaving the top job, former Indian skipper and National Cricket Academy (NCA) head Rahul Dravid took over the job. With Dravid as head coach, India beat New Zealand in home conditions in the T20I series and Test series.
Earlier Shastri recalled how he had asked India’s former bowling coach Bharat Arun to call up Jasprit Bumrah for his Test debut in South Africa in 2018.
"He knew. I made Bharat Arun call him up and let him know that be ready. You might just get a call up. I spoke to Virat, spoke to the selectors. I said not in India… don't even bring him into the 15 in India. Unleash him straight in South Africa. And coming to Cape Town," the Mumbai-born all-rounder revealed after Bumrah’s terrific performance in the ongoing Boxing Day Test.
