Rathour added to India A support staff, issue raised
NEW DELHI: The BCCI is set to appoint former Test opener Vikram Rathour as batting coach of India A and Under 19 teams but since he is a relative of U-19 national selector Ashish Kapoor, the recruitment may lead to a ‘conflict of interest’ controversy.
It has been learnt that GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim got green light for temporary appointment of Rathour and wicket-keeping coach Vijay Yadav from the Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai as “additional staff for A and U19 teams”.
However Kapoor is Rathour’s brother-in-law and as per new BCCI constitution, it could lead to a direct case of conflict of interest.
“India A and U-19 coach Rahul Dravid had specifically recommended two names — Rathour as batting coach and Vijay Yadav as fielding coach as additional staff for A team,” a senior BCCI official privy to the development said on condition of anonymity.
“The appointment is on a temporary basis and they will also work with U-19 setup during quadrangular series and also at the NCA. He (Rathour) will also be Rest of India coach in Irani Cup,” the official added.
Rathour is supposed to be part of India U-19 setup during an upcoming quadrangular series involving India U-19 A and B teams along with colts from South Africa and Afghanistan.
The question being raised is whether GM (Operations) Karim had apprised CoA chief Rai about problems that can arise due to Rathour’s appointment even it has been Dravid’s recommendation.
Karim was unavailable for a comment despite being contacted.