BCCI’s money

               It’s their (BCCI’s) money, if they want to blow it, let them,” said Bishan Singh Bedi to Wisden India. “I have no time for these people. It’s an Indian concern. An Indian should be in charge. I have always said it and I maintain it.”The decision taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Working Committee to extend Duncan Fletcher’s contract as Indian team coach for a year was greeted with scepticism by former Indian cricketers.Criticism also came in from Sunil Gavaskar, who told NDTV that Fletcher was given an extension because he was a foreigner. “If he were an Indian, probably he would not have got an extension,” said Gavaskar. “If you look at the past, every time an Indian coach didn’t do well in a series, he was removed. During his tenure, India suffered heavy losses in Australia and England. India also could not win the Asia Cup despite being the world champions. Well, India didn’t win any title during his tenure. India didn’t even qualify for the knockout stage of T20 World Cup.On Twitter, Aakash Chopra, who opened in ten Test for India, expressed his displeasure at the decision, writing, “So all assumptions about Fletcher were grossly misplaced. He’s indeed contributed to this team’s performances. How do you judge a coach? By team performances and player development. Fletcher hasn’t impressed on both counts.Bedi, who coached the team in the early 1990s, chose not to blame Fletcher for India’s 0-4 losses in England and Australia, as well as at home to England late last year, but said having him in charge made no difference to the way India performed. “Fletcher can’t do anything with the Indian team,” he said. “Gary Kirsten did well because the players did well. Now, the team isn’t doing well. The team makes the coach what he is. Have an Indian as the coach, who will be more passionate about the cause.