Even as the Indian cricket board continues its search for Team India's
new coach, a section of former cricketers want the board to consider Mohinder Amarnath's name for the job, media sources said.
According to the sources, the BCCI has constituted a
seven-member panel headed by Board chief Sharad Pawar to find a successor
to Greg Chappell. The panel comprises three former captains S Venkatraghavan,
Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
Australians Dav Whatmore and Tom Moody, who are currently coaching
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively, have emerged as the top
contenders for the job.
However, former cricketer and coach, Anshuman Gaekwad,
felt the BCCI should rather give the responsibility to an Indian as only a local
would be able to understand the players' needs.
"I am not against the appointment of a foreign coach but
I feel only an Indian can understand the team's needs. And among the Indians,
I don't think there can be anyone better than Amarnath. He deserves a chance
to coach the team," Gaekwad said.
Former cricketer Maninder Singh echoed Gaekwad's sentiments
and called for Amarnath's appointment as the team's coach.
"Jimmy should be made the coach but he should be allowed to work independently.
There should not be any pressure on him. On most occasions, an Indian coach
has to cope with lot of pressure that should not be the case with him.
"Secondly, if he is given the charge, then the board should give him a
long tenure, like a foreign coach," Singh said.
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