Greg Chappel denies relations with senior players soured

Kochi, Oct 1 (UNI) Former coach of Team India Greg Chappel, who resigned after India's World Cup fiasco, today said the often-repeated criticism that his relations with senior players had broken down was a ''myth.'' Talking to a private news channel CNN-IBN today, the former Australia skipper, considered one of the best batsmen, said ''It is a myth'', when asked if he thought so about the stories doing the rounds to that effect.

'A lot of things were being said'', he also observed.

Greg, who is back in India as coach for a stint with Rajasthan Cricket Association, said he loved his stint with Indian cricket during his shortlived stay as coach. ''I always thougt India is the centre stage of cricket. One has to be here if he wishes to be associated with cricket'', he observed.

It may be recalled that it was during his tenure as coach that former India captain Saurav Ganguly lost his place in the team as captain for several months before staging a comeback under Greg himself and then went on to retain his place as a key player again, recapturing his form.

Saurav's exit had kicked off a controversy with Greg being blamed for it. It was also later reckoned that his relations with other senior players also soured and that the result of it showed in India's dismal performance in the World Cup early this year.

UNI