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This article was first published 10 years ago

Dhoni has overstepped his brief as captain: BCCI

Last updated on: August 25, 2014 20:04 IST

Image: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, and coach Duncan Fletcher
Photographs: BCCI

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's statement that coach Duncan Fletcher continues to be the "boss" of the team and will stay till the 2015 World Cup has prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take up the matter at its next Working Committee meeting.

The BCCI top brass is fuming over Dhoni's comments at the team’s pre-match press conference ahead of the first One-Day International against England in Bristol, saying that the captain "over-stepped his brief".

Dhoni's comments have also raised speculation whether he is on the same page with the BCCI bigwigs who appointed Ravi Shastri as ‘Director of Cricket’ in the wake of the team's shambolic performance in the Test series against England.

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'Dhoni does not decide who is going to stay till what time'

Image: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, and Duncan Fletcher
Photographs: Philip Brown/Reuters

A very senior office-bearer who is among the top decision makers in the board made it clear that the matter will come up for discussion at the Board's next Working Committee meeting.

"What happened is very disappointing and unbecoming of an Indian captain. The matter will come up for discussion at the next working committee meeting of the board. Let's get it straight. Dhoni is no one to comment as to who is the boss of the team. It's not his domain," he told Press Trust of India.

"Obviously, Dhoni has overstepped his brief as an Indian captain. The media can ask him any question, but being a matured cricketer he should know what his lines are. Just like BCCI officials are not going to decide who is in the playing eleven, Dhoni does not decide who is going to stay till what time.

"He has not been entrusted with the duty of recruiting the support staff or commenting on their tenure," said the official, who had accompanied Indian team as manager on various tours.

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Overall, the operation remains the same: Dhoni

Image: Ravi Shastri
Photographs: Rafiqur Rahman/Reuters

BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel had made it clear that the team would now be "Ravi Shastri's baby" and Fletcher will have to report to him.

Shastri himself had said in media interviews that Fletcher would have to report to him and he will be the overall in-charge of the team.

However, at the pre-match press conference, Dhoni threw his weight behind the beleaguered coach by declaring that he continues to remain the "boss" and will stay in that capacity till the 2015 World Cup.

"He (Fletcher) will lead us into the World Cup," said Dhoni, at the press conference.

"Also, he is still the boss. We have Ravi Shastri who will look into everything, but Fletcher is the boss. It's not as if his powers or his position have been curtailed. I don’t know what you feel from the outside, but operations still remain the same. We have a few other support staff coming into the dressing room, but, overall, the operation remains the same," he said.

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'It's a bit tough on Trevor and Joe'

Image: Trevor Penney and Shikhar Dhawan
Photographs: Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Dhoni also said Ravi Shastri will merely "oversee the team's preparations", which is seen as an attempt to undermine the former India all-rounder's position in the squad.

The skipper also made it clear that he did not approve of the 'break' given to fielding coach Trevor Penney and bowling coach Joe Dawes.

Asked if he was happy with the timing of the changes, Dhoni had replied, "It's a bit tough on Trevor (Penney) and Joe (Dawes), especially when fielders drop catches and the fielding coach has to miss the series. But let's hope for the best.

"We are welcoming the new guys because that is very important. They will be part of the dressing room family as of now. We will have to give them some time to adjust to how we operate, and see what kind of input they bring to the table."

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