It is very unfortunate, says MSK Prasad on Sunil Gavaskar's comment

New Delhi National chairman of selectors MSK Prasad yesterday said that he doesnt believe you know more when you have played more hitting back at his detractors for constantly demeaning his panel owing to its modest international record In an interview with PTI the chairman of the selection committee spoke on a variety of issues ranging from the jibes on his stature his Test record is six matches allegations that the Indian team management bullies him lack of vision and the lame duck jibe by legend Sunil Gavaskar The fivemember panel has a combined experience of 13 Test matchesExcerptsA lot has been said about the stature and experience of this selection committee Does it hurt youLet me tell you that all the selection committee members have played for the Indian team in different formats which is the basic criterion to be in selection committee at the time of our appointments Apart from international cricket together we have played 477 firstclass games Together we have watched more than 200 firstclass matches during our tenure Dont you think our experience as players and selectors after watching those number of games are good enough to pick the right talentThis combined 13Test stat thats often brought up to hit you peopleIf one is talking about stature and international experience Ed Smith who is the current chairman for England and Wales Cricket Board has played only one Test Trevor Hohns who is the chairman of Cricket Australias selection committee for over a decade and half with a couple of years break in between has played only seven Tests And Mark Waugh who played 128 Test matches and 244 ODIs worked under Trevor Legendary Australian player and captain Greg Chappell who played 87 Test matches and 74 ODIs for his country is also working under Trevor now When stature and international experience doesnt come into picture in those countries how will it come in the way in our country The point that I am driving here is that every job has its own demands If vast international experience is the question then our beloved late Raj Singh Dungarpur wouldnt have been the chairman of the senior selection committee as he never played international cricket Maybe a diamond called Sachin Tendulkar wouldnt have been unearthed at only 16 years If international experience is the case then many excricketers who have played lot of firstclass matches can never ever dream to become India selectors How far is it right and justifiable to comment on stature and international experience of the selection committee when the job actually demands a different expertise to spot talentDo you get angry at times when comments like lame duck are thrown at youIt is very unfortunate We have utmost respect for legendary cricketers Every opinion expressed by them is taken in right earnest They have their viewpoints which is wellreceived In fact more than getting hurt by this kind of comments it only makes this selection committee stronger committed and unitedWhen the committee has differed with coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli on decisions how have things ended Did they Kohli and Shastri ever try to bully the panelRavi Shastri and Virat Kohli are the coach and captain of our senior team and Rahul Dravid looks after India A They have their roles and responsibilities cut out We as a selection committee have our roles and responsibilities Working in tandem and in solidarity with Ravi Virat and Rahul cannot be taken as being bullied There were several occasions we had difference of opinions which we may not bring into the public domain What happens within the four walls has to remain there At the end of the day we move on in the larger interest of the Indian team and the country It is a common misconception that people think players who have played more cricket have more knowledge or more power and can bully anybody but it is not a fact If that is the case then the entire coaching unit selection committee and all other relevant fields should be filled with only those people who have had vast international careers as players I dont think this is rightCatch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates