Zaheer: Chappell said I'd never play for him

News

Cricket365
November 4, 2014

Veteran India fast bowler Zaheer Khan has added to the claims made by Sachin Tendulkar against former coach Glenn Chappell, saying the mentor told him he'd not play for India while Chappell was in charge.

Tendulkar said in his new book that Chappell was very controlling, and Khan echoed that, saying that when the Australian became coach in 2005 he was told he'd not have a big role in the team.

Khan was out of the Test side between January and December of 2006, playing four Tests that year, and then came back at the end and was active in the side in 2007, the year Chappell left.

Zaheer told PTI: "After he was appointed the coach of the Indian team, he once came upto me and told "Zaheer, you will not be playing for India till I remain the coach.

"I was so taken aback that I couldn't react for some time. I was totally zapped. Like what do I do now? Do I revolt? Do I speak to the captain about what's happening? Do I take his comments at face value? Why is he taking it on me?

"I understood one thing. This man had agendas and was getting personal. He had his set ideas and if you didn't fall in line, then you have to be prepared to fall by the wayside.

"He tried to finish my career but I believe I came back even stronger in South Africa during the end of 2006.

"He had some issues with the senior guys in the team. He tried many ways to stop my comeback into Indian team during the phase when I was out of the team for nearly a year.

"I came to know later that every time when my name was discussed, he (Chappell) would find means to delay my comeback by 3-4 months."