Wadekar favours live telecast of selection meeting

The chairman of the national selection committee Chandu Borde is not in favour of live telecast of the selection committee meetings. "I don't know whose idea is this, but I am not in favour of it. There may be a difference of opinion sometimes and under the circumstances it is not advisable to have it live" Borde told this correspondent prior to the last selection committee meeting.

It is not known whether Borde still holds the same view, especially after the hue and cry about the recent selectors' meeting where Sachin Tendulkar opted to resign after the two Tests against South Africa.

Tendulkar and Kapil also have been saying that they have nothing against the inclusion of Md Azharuddin, but the whole world seems to be aware of the reasons behind Tendulkar's resignation and Kapil not attending the meeting.

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar is in favour of having live telecasts of the meeting. Speaking to this correspondent, Wadekar stated, "It (meeting) should be transparent. Even the Lok Sabha sessions are shown live on TV, so why not the cricket selection committee meetings The cricket loving public has every right to know how the meetings are being conducted." Wadekar also questioned the Board's decision of not inviting Kapil for the meeting. "If it was a Board's managing committee decision, it is fair, otherwise how can the BCCI secretary write a letter to the player who holds the world record of capturing the highest Test wickets".

The Board had initially invited Kapil half an hour before the scheduled meeting to express his views on the selection. He was supposed to leave the room thereafter. Realising the blunder, the Board ratified its decision and sent a second letter to Kapil inviting him for the meeting. "The captain and the coach are part and parcel of the team. How can their views be ignored" asked Wadekar. "During my tenure as manager, I insisted on being present at the discussions," Wadekar added.