Lambasting the BCCI for 'under-utilising' his expertise in grooming spinners,legendary off-spinner E A S Prasanna said he joined the Indian Cricket League ashe was assured a big role in developing slow bowlers.
"When (ICL chairman) Kapil Dev spoke to me he told me that the leaguewanted me to fulfil one of its prime objectives - developing good spinners. Ifound that my objective tallied with theirs. So, I liked the idea and joined theleague," Prasanna told PTI over phone.
Prasanna, who formed a lethal spin quartet in the 1960s and 1970s along withB S Bedi and B S Chandrasekhar and S Venkatraghavan for India, has been made amember of the multi-million dollar ICL executive board.
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Prasanna rued that his role in the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academywas only token.
"Though I'm based in the same city, my services at the NCA were utilisedonly upto a bare minimum," said the 67-year-old former Test cricketer, whois attached to the NCA as a bowling consultant.
"For instance, this year, I did not get to spend any time with the NCAcadets in Bangalore. My duties with the NCA this season were limited to 10 days- five days in Kolkata and five more in Nagpur," he said.
Prasanna pointed out that despite the short stints, 85 to 90 per cent of theboys he worked with have made it to the state sides. Leggie Piyush Chawla iseven playing for India.
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"When everybody else shouted that he should be made to play domesticcricket for some more time, only I had contended that he needs to be utilised inthe top level. And the results are for all to see," said Prasanna, whopicked 189 wickets in 49 matches during a 16-year Test career.
"Despite showing results, they under-utilised me. When I raised thisissue, I was cold shouldered. So, I thought here is a platform (ICL) where I candedicate myself to the job of developing spinners for India," he said.
Asked how he could hope to succeed in his mission when most of the players inthe ambit of the ICL were either over the hill or members of Ranji Trophysquads, Prasanna said "That's true. But then what you are talking of isonly one step in the ladder. There are many more steps".
Famed for his mastery of flighted deliveries and an uncanny ability to outwitleading willowers even on batting-friendly tracks during his playing days, theoffie said he would be given the opportunity in ICL to have long tenures withyoungsters on the field.
"My job is not merely an administrative one. It involves mainly on-fieldwork. Just wait and see".
Prasanna was apparently referring to the academy that the ICL has promised tocome up with in future.
PTI
