BCCI does not have long term plans, feels: Barry

Kolkata, Dec 8 (UNI) South Africa batting icon Barry Richards today lambasted the BCCI for lack of any planning in domestic cricket forcing the Indian team to face such humiliation against the Proteas.

The country is up in arms against the team selection and players after the 4-0 whitewash at the hands of the South Africans in the ODIs.

Talking to reporters at the launch of Neo Sports, a cricket centric electronic channel, Barry, said, ''There is a complete lack of planning at the domestic level. You can burn the coach, burn the captain back home, but that won't change India's fortunes overseas.

I mean the administration should be hanged for the South African debacle.'' ''There is no planning for the next 10 years. The planning is for the next 10 minutes. Nowadays we play so much cricket that we tend to forget easily. After the loss in South Africa they (India) win three nil against Bangladesh and everyone is happy. I mean the disease remains. Even a small club in Australia plans for the next five years and Sets their target. The club for which my son plays can beat Zimbabwe. That is the kind of homework they do,'' he said.

The reverses in South Africa are a combination of several things that include bad technique, poor selection and lack of planning, Richards, who was forced by South Africa's sporting isolation to play elsewhere, thrilling spectators with his nimble, aggressive strokeplay for Hampshire, Natal and South Australia, and in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, said.

''I mean it is ridiculous to have so many teams playing domestic cricket at that level and the pitches are all so flat and dead. They hardly have any chance of playing on bouncy hard tracks and so they are so ill-equipped when they travel overseas. And this will remain.

They should have practiced at Mohali before they left for South Africa. But there was no preparation at all. And it showed. They are always struggling outside the sub-continent in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand,'' he said.

Commenting on the team playing in South Africa now, he said, ''There are three big disappointments--Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.'' ''Veeru never got going. As a result the pressure has always been on Tendulkar. If he gets off the block and takes on the Makhya Ntinis then things become much easier,'' he said.

Regarding Pathan, the Durban born legend said the ball just didn't swing for him. ''If he could have accounted for Graeme Smith, who is uncomfortable against the left handers, (Hershelle) Gibbs and (Jaques) Kallis early, the results would show,'' Richards said mincing no words.

''Harbhajan has lost the plot totally. He is low on confidence.

We all know Anil(Kumble) is a great bowler but not a great spinner.

Romesh Power was not taken and so Harbhajan needed to deliver,'' he quipped.

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