 Chappell has been India's coach since June 2005 |
The head of Indian cricket has ruled out any possibility of Greg Chappell being replaced as national team coach after a run of poor results. Chappell's contract expires next April following the World Cup.
But India failed to reach the knockout phase of the recent Champions Trophy on home soil and lost to South Africa by 157 runs in Durban on Wednesday.
Despite that, Board of Control president Sharad Pawar said: "There is no question of sacking him."
He told the Press Trust of India: "It is true that the performance [against South Africa] was not up to the mark and there is tremendous scope to improve.
"But one should not forget it is the same team, the same captain and the same coach which had extremely good results in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies."
On Chappell's position, Pawar added: "The contract is there and there is no reason to interfere in it."
The defeat in Durban was India's ninth in their last 13 one-day matches and the manner of it was doubly disappointing as they were bowled out for just 91 after being set a victory target of 249.
Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar will fly to South Africa before the three Tests which follow the one-day series.
But the Board insists the only panic is in the media and among India's fans.
Chappell, meanwhile, has accepted that results have not been good enough.
"Nobody likes being criticised and we are no different, and the boys are keen to perform to a level which would make the press and the fans back home happy," he said prior to the game in Durban.
"The last few months have been frustrating because of interruptions by rain and only six of the last 13 games have been free from hold-ups.
"Hopefully, from now until the next World Cup, the boys would be able to acquire as much momentum and confidence as possible,"
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