Kumble should be chairman of selectors but BCCI needs to raise pay: Sehwag
NEW DELHI, Aug 21: Former skipper Anil Kumble�s ability to boost confidence of the players makes him an ideal candidate for the role of chairman of selectors, said Virender Sehwag, who also advocated a hike in remuneration for the job.
Never to mince his words, former opener Sehwag said BCCI needs to pay more for heading the selectors� committee.
The current selection panel, led by MSK Prasad, has faced a lot of flak for it being a lightweight with a cumulative experience of 13 Tests.
�I think Anil Kumble could be the right candidate for the chairman of selectors post. He is someone who has interacted with Sachin (Tendulkar), Sourav (Ganguly) and Rahul (Dravid) as a player and with youngsters as a coach,� Sehwag told reporters during launch of a new app �The Selector�.
�When I made a comeback (Australia series 2007-08), captain Kumble came to my room and said you will not be dropped for the next two series. That�s the kind of confidence a player needs,� said Sehwag.
However, Sehwag also said that he doesn�t think that Kumble will agree to do the job right now since the chairman gets Rs 1 crore per annum.
�BCCI needs to raise bar as far as pay is concerned. Then a lot of players will be interested,� said Sehwag.
Asked if he would also be interested in this post, Sehwag said that he doesn�t like too many restrictions.
�I write columns, appear on TV and being selector will mean a lot of restrictions. I don�t know whether I would like so many restrictions,� the Nawab of Najafgarh said.
Sehwag, who had lost the race to be India�s coach in 2017 to Ravi Shastri, said that he did not apply this time.
�In 2017, the BCCI secretary (late) Dr MV Sridhar (GM Cricket Operations) asked me to apply so I applied. This time no one asked me, so I didn�t apply,� said Sehwag when asked if he was amused in the manner Shastri was reappointed the coach.
Sehwag also said he finds it difficult to comprehend the conflict of interest rules.
�I can understand that I can�t run an academy if I am a selector but if I am the national coach I don�t understand why I can�t run an academy,� he said.
As the talk veered towards playing XI for the first Test against West Indies, Sehwag�s vote went to Ajinkya Rahane if India played five bowlers.
�Ajinkya Rahane has been batting at No. 4 (No. 5) so if it is a case of five bowlers then he should play. Rohit Sharma comes in only if you go with four bowlers,� Sehwag reasoned.
He also felt that �Mahendra Singh Dhoni should have batted at number five� in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.
�Players like Hardik Pandya, who can play big shots should have come in at number seven towards the end,� said the former India captain. � PTI
