'These Mercenaries...'

T.A. Sekhar, ex-India player and former South Zone selector: Wright is exposing himself by writing totallyuntrue matters like this after five years. After having earned over 200 thousanddollars annually for five years, it is obvious that he wants to make some moremoney by writing such things so that the book sells well.

He never owned his responsibilities or took blameduring his tenure as coach. Why has he not explained his acts of dumping playersto please someone.

Laxman was in great form during 2003 but Wright got his way through byinsisting on the selection of Dinesh Mongia in Laxman's place. If the selectionprocess was regionalised (as Wright alleges), how come the team was able to perform so well in 2003World Cup.

Ashok Malhotra, ex-India player and former East Zone selector: I think he is trying to sell his book by rakingup all these controversies.

There is a lesson for us in this -- thesemercenaries come to India, stay here for four-five years, they know nothingabout our cricket or our system, when they are here they agree with everyone butonce they go back after raking in the moolah, they come out with suchallegations.

I accompanied the team to Bangladesh (in 2004). Isaw in team meetings Wright never uttered a word on strategy, it was Sourav whodid all the talking.

He is now criticising Sourav for bringing in(Sunil) Gavaskar (as batting consultant during the series against Australia in2004). Ifhe had a problem why did he not resign there and then?

Chandu Borde, ex-India player and former selection committee chairman:Wright's comments are in badtaste. After all, he was present in all our meetings asa coach and he never expressed such things. He used say that hewas happy about the players given to him.

In my time as chairman, the selectors used to watch even Ranji Trophymatches besides other Board tournaments and then give their assessments, whichused to be discussed in detail at the selection committee meetings, before wedecided on the teams. Wright did not have his observations on the talentsavailable. Wright's contributions in the selection committee meetings merelyremained yes or no.

How can Wright blame us for such things now? Inmy era as chairman of the committee, we always gave best players to perform forIndia.

Yashpal Sharma, ex-India player and former North Zone selector: The remarksare an insult to the BCCI and not the selectioncommittee members. I walked out of the selection committee becauseI refused to sign the list of 15 players brought by Greg Chappell to a selectionmeeting.

What is the guarantee that Chappell will not goback to Australia after his tenure as coach and write like what Wright has done.

The zonal system has been existent for decades.In 1980-81, we squared the series in Australia and won it in 1982. The systemwas the same (during all that time).

When we won the 1983 World Ccup in England, ChanduBorde was the chairman of selection committee.

Is Wright questioning the capabilities of Borde,who was also the chairman during Wright's time?

Ajit Wadekar, ex-Indiacaptain and former selection committee chairman: It has been going on for ages. It has been happening mainly because of thezonal system of nominating selectors. I reiterate that I have been pointing thisflaw in our system. The board needs to act on this at once and have just a threemember committee of reputed former international cricketers.

Even during my days as selector, such things usedto be a regular feature. The first 12 or 13 players would be automatic choicesand the remaining two or three will be picked by three or four selectors gangingup together.

In fact, they used to meet even before coming forthe meeting and will be predetermined on the selections. Most often, I used tobe stranded at meetings and my suggestions were never accepted by the majority,who would have preplanned on taking some players. I do not want to pinpoint anyselector. I stopped it when I became the chairman of the committee.

Raj Singh, ex-BCCI chief and former selection committee chairman: It is sad but I am not surprised. John was a goodfriend of mine. He always spoke to me on these matters. John also had told mehow difficult it was to work with Sourav Ganguly. He had said to me that theteam meetings used to held for over a good period of two hours and then Gangulyused to change plans in the middle.

Niranjan Shah, BCCI secretary: What does John Wright know about India? He comesfrom a small country which does not have the huge number of cricketers which wehave. We have been doing a very good job over a number of years.

It's a democratic process. What's wrong inselectors backing players from their region if they know their potential? Do notour Members of Parliament talk about issues concerning their region in theHouse?

He's talking about (Sunil) Gavaskar helping the playersas the team's batting consultant even though he was present as the coach. Heshould have raised the issue then and not kept mum if he was not happy.

He should have raised the issues when he was inthe job and not after having made a good packet as compensation. What's the useof talking now.

Virender Sehwag, India player: Talented players get picked whether he is fromWest or North Zone.

Obviously when you have a North Zone selector inthe committee, he will make a mention about players who have been performingwell at the meeting.

The player does not get selected because he isfrom North Zone. Ultimately it is the decision of the five selectors.

If you want more details you speak to John Wrightas he had attended all meetings in his five-year stint.

Inputs from PTI