Sourav physically, mentally unfit

Greg: "In an extra-ordinary attack on skipper Sourav Ganguly, India's cricket coach Greg Chappell has described him as "physically and mentally unfit" to continue as captain and charged him with dividing the team. Chappell said Ganguly's attitude was not ideal for India to strive for the 2007 World Cup and his leadership commanded almost no faith or respect from team members.

The former Australian captain, who took over as the coach from John Wright, is believed to have made these observations in a six-page e-mail to BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra.

Mahendra confirmed having received the e-mail from Chappell but did not disclose the contents, saying it was a confidential matter.

"Yes, I have received an e-mail from Chappell. It is private and confidential. I don’t want to say anything about it," Mahendra told reporters here.

Till today, no coach anywhere in the world had ever levelled written charges against a captain and the latest development has added a sensational twist to the ongoing spat between the captain and the coach.

Chappell, it is understood, has made six observations against Ganguly who has been struggling to come out of a prolonged form slump.

The six observations are believed to be on the following lines: 1. Ganguly is so interested in keeping his captaincy that he has always been creating differences among team members. 2. He has no physical or mental fitness to continue as captain. 3. His leadership commands almost no faith or respect from team members. 4. Ganguly complains mostly of imaginary injuries. 5. Ganguly's attitude is not in the least ideal for India to strive for the 2007 World Cup or a better cricketing future. 6. He does not follow the fitness regime prescribed to him.

The report about the e-mail appeared this morning in a leading Bengali daily Ananda Bazar Patrika.

Chappell's e-mail came barely a week after Ganguly's startling disclosure that he had been asked by the coach to step down as captain before the Test series against Zimbabwe, a development that caused a flutter in the cricketing fraternity. "