The Cricket Board today made it clear that it would not look beyond the list of
applications when the new Team India coach is picked to accompany the side
before it leaves for Australia.
BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said today that the Board had received
20-22 applications and the coach selection committee would zero in on those names
only.
"We are not going to look beyond the list because we don't
want to give undue importance to anyone," Shah said.
Shah's remark was an oblique reference to how the Board ended
up with eggs on its face when they went out of the way to invite former South
Africa coach Graham Ford, who opted out of the job at the eleventh hour.
Shah also played down the fact that the coach selection committee
-- comprising former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkataraghavan,
Joint Secretary M P Pandove, Treasurer N Srinivasan and himself -- did not find
time to meet but asserted the side would have a new coach before it embarks
on the tour of Australia.
"Actually, we don't need to meet for that. We can share views via teleconference
too. In any case, you would see a new coach before the Australia tour,"
he said.
Since Greg Chappell left the job, India are without a full-time
coach with Chandu Borde, Ravi Shastri and Lalchand Rajput doing the makeshift
cricket manager's role at times.
Among those who have applied to succeed Chappell are former
stumper and Maharashtra coach Chandrakant Pandit, former head of the Queensland
Academy of Excellence Richard Done, Leicestershire coach Tim Boon, former Australia
and South Africa international Kepler Wessels, Queensland coach Terry Oliver,
Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy and former New Zealand captain
Martin Crowe.
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