Dhoni ‘disgusted’ over leak of rift with selectors

A report on Saturday in Ananda Bazaar Patrika suggested that Dhoni had told the selectors he would quit if he didn’t have his way.

On the eve of the fourth ODI in Bangalore, Dhoni admitted that the report had created a bit of a problem for him regarding his immediate dealings with RP Singh and Irfan Pathan. “In a scenario like this, you have to get in touch with both RP Singh and Irfan Pathan and ensure that there are no differences,” Dhoni said. “RP shouldn’t feel that I’m going out of the way in supporting him, nor should Irfan feel unwanted.” He said that both players trusted him and that would help “ease” the situation. Dhoni stressed that the confidentiality between the captain and the selectors should be respected at all times. “I don’t know from where the reports came from. What happens inside while the selectors and the captains are there, if it comes comes out, it is disgusting, it’s disrespecting,” he said.

“I think if they are supposed to come out, it’s better (that) we have live television in the room there. What happens, nobody should know apart from the eight guys who are sitting down.”

He added such leaks were detrimental for the game. “It would be good for Indian cricket if you quote that person,” he said.

Disagreements between captains and selectors are not uncommon but this is the first time such an incident has become public soon after a meeting raising a debate over what say a captain should have in picking his team.

RP Singh was part of the Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka tours but ended up making way for Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Ishant Sharma in the playing XI. In two one-dayers against England this month, he gave away 74 runs for one wicket from nine overs. Irfan last played a Test in April and was dropped from the side after failing to impress in the ODIs in Sri Lanka. In the Ranji season so far, he has 12 wickets in two matches.