Even as the name of Sandeep Patil is doing the rounds to take over the Indian team's reins as its interim coach from Greg Chappell, a former Cricket Board official revealed how several senior players had conspired to oust him as team coach 11 years ago.
"Several players, including four seniors from the present Indian team, wanted us to remove Patil as coach and we had no option but to appoint Madan Lal as the new coach overnight. It happened in 1996," said the official, who did not wish to be identified about the incident.
"Patil then went on to coach other teams and notably guided Kenya to the semi finals of the last World Cup," he said.
The official named Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly and former cricketers Javagal Srinath, Ajay Jadeja and the then captain Mohammed Azharuddin as the players who had revolted against Patil.
"It was in the aftermath of the Navjot Singh Sidhu walkout incident in England. After the tour these players met some top board officials and said they did not want Patil as coach any more," he elaborated.
Former opener Sidhu had returned home from England midway and the reason for the cricketer-turned-politician-cum commentator for having done so is still shrouded in mystery.
"I don't know the reasons why they (the players) did not want Patil as coach," he added.
