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'Collective Failure'

'I would take some of the responsibility but I don't think blame could be apportioned on any single individual. India haven't won a major series abroad since 1995, so there has to be a reason for it.'

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'Collective Failure'
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"I am not employed by you people (media). I am employed by the BCCI,"Chappell said after the team's 69-run loss to Sri Lanka in Trinidad on Friday.

"Obviously I will have to face up to them and give them a report, andgive them some indications of what I think. I don't think this is the forum forme to discuss it," he said.

The loss to Sri Lanka meant India finished the group phase with the lone winagainst lowly Bermuda and only an highly improbable win by the minnows overBangladesh can see them through to the next stage of the quadrennial event.

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Refusing to pinpoint any individual for the team's World Cup debacle,Chappell said "a serious introspection" was needed to correct theteam's overseas record.

"I would take some of the responsibility but I don't think blame couldbe apportioned on any single individual. It's a collective responsibility,"said the coach.

"India haven't won a major series abroad since 1995, so there has to bea reason for it," the 58-year-old coach said.

Chappell was clearly rattled by the barrage of questions hurled at him at thepost-match press conference.

Asked if the process he had constantly talked about since taking over asIndia's coach had not worked or whether it was wasted on the wrong people, theformer Australian captain retorted: "I think that is an inflammatoryquestion."

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Asked persistently to explain why the team failed, Chappell said "Wedidn't play well".

Is that all he had to say?, a reporter persisted.

"What do you want me to say? If you want me to criticise someone or agroup of people, I am not prepared to do that," said a fuming Chappell.

Chappell's contract with the Indian team ends after the World Cup.

Asked if he was prepared to continue working with the Indian team after theevent, he said, "it is not my decision".

Will he accept if an offer to continue was made to him?

"I have not been made such an offer. I will answer that when the offeris made."

Chappell expressed confidence that a "system was in place to look afterhis security" once he returns to India with the rest of the team members.

"Obviously in terms of what has happened in recent times it's a concernbut I know the system is in place to take care of it," he said.

Chappell understood that millions of fans back home would be disappointedwith India's below par performance but hoped they would be mature enough to havea good perspective.

"There could be many of them who would be angry. It's a hugedisappointment for them. But hopefully they would realize it's just a game. Youneed to look at a number of things to get a true perspective."

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