India coach drama gets messier BCCI QUICK TO DENY REPORTS OF SHASTRI TAKING OVER TOP JOB
he drama over the appointment of the Team India coach got messier yesterday.
Barely 24 hours after Sourav Ganguly, one of the three members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) along with Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman, had announced it would take a few more days to decide on the next coach, and the panel was not in a hurry, news emerged from India that Ravi Shastri had been appointed head coach.
The reason for the sudden development was that the chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), Vinod Rai had apparently taken strong exception to the CAC’s decision to delay the announcement. Ganguly had stated that the coach would be named only after consultation with Indian captain Virat Kohli, but Rai wanted the announcement by Tuesday evening.
Barely had the fans thought that the drama over the appointment had finally ended with Shastri being given charge, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced through its acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary that no decision had been made on appointment of new coach and the CAC was still deliberating over it.
He even categorically said: “There is no truth in what has been running.”
Soon after Ganguly had announced that there would be a delay in naming the coach, speculation was rife on whether favourite Shastri had slipped in the race.
It is known that Ganguly and Shastri are not are on good terms, and the CAC wanted to get Kohli’s approval on another candidate. It is also a known fact that Kohli is keen on Shastri, with whom he got along well when the latter was the Indian Team director from 2014 to 2016.
Shastri agreed to apply for the post after initial reluctance, and only on getting assurance from the BCCI about getting the post. However, the latest development reveals that CAC, especially Ganguly, has expressed the view that the new coach has to be picked not based on purely the liking of the captain alone.
It is also understood that he had also made it clear to the COA that the next coach will be named by them as per the three members’ unanimous decision.
Earlier the BCCI had officially announced that of five applicants Shastri, Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput and Richard Pybus were interviewed.
Although six applicants were shortlisted, former West Indies coach Phil Simmons informed BCCI that the interview time mentioned would be mid night in the Caribbean and hence cannot attend the interview by Skype at that time.
There is also speculation that CAC want Kohli to look at the credentials of Rajput and Moody which are very impressive.
Following all the drama, it is clear India’s team will have to fly out for the oncoming Sri Lanka tour starting on July 19 without a coach.
June 23, 2016:
After interviews of several former cricketers by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, India appoint Anil Kumble as coach for one year. Kumble go on to guide the country to many memorable victories.
The first sign of coach Kumble and captain Virat Kohli not being on the same page emerges. Kumble wanted Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to play in the fourth Test against Australia. Kohli did not want it but Kumble insisted and Yadav made debut without four wickets leading to India winning the Test and series.
Just before India is about to embark on defending the Champions Trophy, BCCI call for applications for the coach’s post. This leads to speculation that Kumble, who had a successful run, is being removed.
March 11, 2017: May 25, 2017: During the Champions Trophy:
It became clear that coach Kumble and Kohli had differences and that new applications had been called to remove Kumble. BCCI denies of any rift.
The CAC extend Kumble’s term till West Indies tour and the committee tries to solve the differences between Kumble and Kohli but fail in the process. Kumble resigns as coach admitting there is a rift with Kohli.
Soon after Kumble resigned, the BCCI extends deadline to apply for the coach’s post until July 9.
The CAC shortlist six out of the ten candidates and interviews five of them. Ganguly, one of the members of the CAC announced that the coach will be announced only after consultation with Kohli.
News spread that Shastri has been appointed as coach but BCCI quickly denies reports.
Before India’s West Indies tour: BCCI extend deadline: July 10: July 11: