Sachin Tendulkar claims on divisive Greg Chappell backed by VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan

Sachin Tendulkar's revelations about how then coach, Greg Chappell, was a divisive force have rung true with his former team-mates. Tendulkar sparked controversy when excerpts from his autobiography, Playing it my way, came out in the open. Tendulkar had claimed that Greg Chappell had approached him just 4 months prior to the 2007 World Cup and suggested that he should replace Rahul Dravid as captain. Tendulkar went on to add that he had even suggested to the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) that Chappell should not travel with the team for the 2007 World Cup.

Tendulkar also revealed how Chappell had threatened to stall VVS Laxman's career when he refused suggestions of opening the innings.

Laxman told NDTV, "This happened in 2006 at the Wankhede Stadium when India played versus England. Yuvraj Singh was picked ahead of me. We were going to the West Indies for a four-Test series after that and he asked me if I would open.

"I mentioned in 2000 I had decided I would not open anymore after it didn't work for me in the first four years. I was consistent in the middle order since 2000. Chappell asked me my age and said - Don't you think 31 is too young an age to sit at home? I was astonished to hear this. I had a very good run under him. I was the second highest run scorer under him."

Laxman was not the only person to come out and talk about Chappell threatening to stop his career.

Speaking to PTI, Zaheer Khan said, "After he was appointed the coach of the Indian team, he once came upto me and told 'Zaheer, you will not be playing for India till I remain the coach.'

"I understood one thing. This man had agendas and was getting personal. He had his set ideas and if you didn't fall in line, then you have to be prepared to fall by the wayside. He tried to finish my career but I believe I came back even stronger in South Africa during the end of 2006.

"He had some issues with the senior guys in the team. He tried many ways to stop my comeback into the Indian team during the phase when I was out of the team for nearly a year. I came to know later that every time my name was discussed, he (Chappell) would find means to delay my comeback by 3-4 months," added Zaheer.

Chappell found himself in the eye of another barrage of criticism from off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh as well who claimed that Chappell wanted to get rid of himself and five other prominent cricketers.

"There were many guys that he wanted to get rid of. Sourav (Ganguly) was his primary target followed by myself, Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh.

"Chappell destroyed Indian cricket to such an extent that it required at least 3 years to again get back on track. The worst part was some players in that team, who sucked up to the coach and would supply selective misinformation creating bigger rifts," added Harbhajan.