NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Pargat Singh is down with chicken pox. In comes Vasudevan Baskaran, who all this while has made no attempt to hide that he wants the top job as the national coach. The question now is, what happens to Pargat if Baskaran manages to get this Indian squad to do well in the series against Germany and then possibly Pakistan.The IHF president KPS Gill's statements on whether Pargat would be back once he recovers from chicken pox, shed little light on what is in store. On the other hand, his utterances, ``We are not sure. We'll see how things work out'' would certainly give Pargat every reason to be peeved with the Federation. And sources indicate that a disillusioned Pargat is already contemplating giving up a job, he never expected in the first place.
There is no doubt that Baskaran, who led the juniors to an excellent showing at Milton Keynes World Cup, deserves a chance, but then Pargat having been appointed once has hardly got a fair trial in the six months. Such has been the
international calendar planned by IHF!
Pargat, as he recoups in Jalandhar, would be still be wondering the wisdom of accepting a job that came like a bolt from the blue and without any consultation with him. Soon after he announced his retirement in January this year, he was dragged out of hibernation by a troubled IHF. Pargat did take on the challenge, but within weeks he looked disillusioned as he was saddled with a second-string squad for the Hamburg tournament.
Then over the next few months he shouted hoarse to get the team of his choice and he wanted adequate rest for his top players, who were being overburdened with too many domestic matches by their departments. Then a spate of injuries to top players left him wringing his hands in frustration. And finally he himself was struck down by chicken pox.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
