'Who's This Noel David?'

Former BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele confirmed there was something fishyabout the selection of the unheard-of Noel David from Hyderabad as a replacementfor injured speedster Javagal Srinath on the tour of the West Indies in 1996-97.Excerpts:

Can you shed light on the controversy about Noel David's unexpectedselection as a replacement for the injured Srinath?

All I can say is that captain Sachin Tendulkar was against David'sselection. Why, he hadn't even heard his name.

Can you elaborate?

I was the BCCI secretary and the convenor of the selection committee as well.When Srinath got injured, I received a faxed message from Tendulkar. He wantedan extra spinner to replace Srinath. He thought a spinner would be moreeffective than a medium pacer because of the nature of the Caribbean pitches.

Did Tendulkar have any particular spinner in mind?

He had two off-spinners in mind - Baroda's Tushar Arothe and Hyderabad'sKanwaljit Singh.

Why did the BCCI then send David, going against the captain's wishes?

I really don't know. Even before they held a hurried teleconference, I hadtold the selectors that Tendulkar wanted either Arothe or Kanwaljit. But theycame up with David's name.

Do you think a particular selector or two may have prevailed over theothers? Do you think money may have changed hands, considering that David was anovice and was unable to find a place even in the Hyderabad team?

I can't comment on that simply because I wasn't part of it. As I said, theydidn't meet personally, but discussed the matter over the phone. Why do you askme all this? Why don't you ask the selectors concerned?

What was Ramakant Desai's stand? What was he doing as chairman ofselectors?

He just called me to inform that his fellow selectors had ignored the teammanagement's request and decided to send David. As you know, "Tiny"(Desai) was too mild a man. I don't think he'd have bothered to argue with anyselector even if the latter had insisted on including a player of his choice.

What was Tendulkar's reaction when you apprised him of the development?

I think he was shocked. I remember him asking me "Who's this NoelDavid?" He said he wasn't interested in having David for Srinath. He sentme another faxed message and insisted on sending Arothe, if not Kanwaljit, butcertainly not David. Tendulkar said he was impressed by Arothe's bowling eventhough he was mainly a batsman. But it wasn't to be and David was flown in.

What did coach Madan Lal say?

I don't know. I've no idea what he said or how he reacted.