Dungarpur and current BCCI president A.C. Muthiah are due to meet former New Zealand opener John Wright and ex-Australian captain Greg Chappell in Madras on Monday to select the first ever foreign coach for the team. Among leading Test stars who have coached the national team in the past are Bishan Bedi, Ajit Wadekar, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal and Anshuman Gaekwad. Gaekwad, currently in charge of the Indians for the Sharjah tri-series starting here on Friday, declined to comment on Dungarpur's outburst. But the former Test batsman, who was sacked as coach after last year's World Cup only to be brought back temporarily when Kapil resigned, told reporters last week he did not favour a foreign coach. Dungarpur, however, believes Indian coaches are not qualified for the job.
Foreign coaches are better at analysing players.
They are computer-savvy and trained for the post. Their services will immensely help the Indian cricketers. Dungarpur cited the example of other countries going in for a foreign coach. Sri Lanka have Australian Dave Whatmore, the architect of their World Cup triumph in 1996, while England have gone in for Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher. South Africa used Bob Woolmer of England for many years, before he was replaced after the World Cup by home grown Gerald Ford.