Ravi Shastri applies for India cricket team coach’s post
MUMBAI: Ravi Shastri has formally applied for the post of India cricket team’s chief coach. The former India team director confirmed to HT that he has sent in his application to the BCCI, which has fixed July 9 as the deadline.
There are some other high profile names in the fray, including Virender Sehwag and Australian Tom Moody, but Shastri is the frontrunner for the job.
The former India all-rounder well in his first stint with the Indian team of around a year and half from 2014 to 2016 when he established a good rapport with captain Virat Kohli. He is also known to have the backing of the BCCI officials.
The new coach will be picked by the three-man Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
Shastri did not apply when the BCCI first invited applications for the national coach’s position, but after Anil Kumble decided to opt out of the race after the Champions Trophy, he decided to throw his hat in the ring.
The coach selection process, however, has become a complicated situation for the BCCI and CAC. After Kumble was picked over Shastri last June, CAC member Ganguly had a public spat with Shastri over the selection process was conducted.
SIMMONS APPLIES
Former West Indies batsman and coach Phil Simmons has also joined the race for the India coach’s job, according to reports. Simmons has coached Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies. His most recent assignment was his home side, but fell out with the Windies board over his critical comments, leading to his exit.