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Dungarpur asks Ramakant Desai to reconsider

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Raj Singh Dungarpur today hinted that national selection committee chairman Ramakant Desai had expressed his desire to quit from his post but that he (Raj Singh) has requested him to reconsider the decision.

''I do not want to change horses midway through the stream,'' said Raj Singh, adding that he wanted to give Desai time to recover from his heart problem. As per the medical dossier, Desai should be able to resume touring very soon.

However, Raj Singh's confidence in Desai's health did not reflect in the chairman's condition today. Desai, in the morning, while refusing to divulge details of his confidential letter to BCCI secretary J Y Lele, had said he was advised complete rest by his doctor. Later, in the evening, his wife said he was bed-ridden and unable to come to the phone.

Earlier, in the morning, Lele in Madras had denied a report about Desai's resignation, stating that he was convalescing. Lele said he had spoken to Desai over phone and the latter had denied the press reports.

Earlier reports, quoting BCCI sources, had suggested that Desai had resigned owing to ill health and that senior selector Kishan Rungta would be acting chairman in the interim. BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur would be naming another former cricketer from the west zone to replace Desai, the reports had claimed.

Meanwhile, the Indian team for the second Test against the Australians, to be played at Calcutta, from March 18 to 22, will be announced on March 10, the final day of the ongoing Test at the M A Chidambaram stadium.