Describing Greg Chappell as "a good captain and a great cricketer," former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan has backed his selection as India's new coach ahead of any domestic player.
"I am not a great believer in coaches but if a person of great calibre like Chappell is selected, it makes a difference," Khan told visiting Indian journalists on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon in honour of Leader of Opposition L K Advani in Islamabad on Wednesday night.
"He is a good captain and a great cricketer. As far as other coaches are concerned, it's okay to have your own coaches", he said.
Asked whether former Pakistan captain and left-arm seamer Wasim Akram would be an ideal choice if India go for a bowling coach, Imran said, "it is for Wasim to decide but what I am trying to say is that there is too much emphasis on coaches."
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Imran also came down heavily on the Pakistan selectors for ignoring Shoaib Akhtar for the tour of the West Indies.
"I always thought it was a blunder. The Pakistani team had overestimated itself. One should never underestimate one's rivals. You discipline a player on the tour and not by keeping him out of a tour".
As for the Pakistan players involving in a fracas during the first Test in Barbados, Imran said such things happen on every tour and they get reported when you lose.