Chappell blasts players for lack of involvement

Mohali: Indian team coach Greg Chappell gave a firing to some players in Ahmedabad prior to their match against West Indies, according to information available.

A television channel reporter, who happened to be around, heard it and reported the incident. Chappell was unaware of the television reporter's presence at the time of the incident.

It seems Chappell fired the players for not showing involvement in the game and even remarked that they had come for practice only to joke around.

"We are trying to help you guys do better but we see nothing coming. All of you do whatever you feel like doing. You guys don't seem to be bothered at all," is what he supposedly said.

Remarking on their laid-back attitude, Chappell apparently also went on to remark: "I see you blokes standing with your hands in your pockets, headphones on and listening to music or cellphones on your ears. Come on, please get involved. It seems you guys are all living in a dream."

When skipper Rahul Dravid was asked whether Chappell did get wild with his players, he said: "It is unfortunate that a private conversation between a player and a coach was reported by the channel."

Refusing to deny that Chappell did fire the players, he said: "It is a part and parcel of the game for a coach and players to have an interaction. I have worked under nearly eight coaches and each one of them has a different style of talking to players. It was a private conversation which has been taken out of context." Dravid, suppressing his anger at the channel, also went to point out: "I don't think it is ethical to eavesdrop into a private conversation and then report about it."