The Board of Control for Cricket in India and its Cricket Advisory Committee may not have as much time on their hand as they though before announcing the new coach of the national team. The BCCI’s Committee of Administrators’ Chairman Vinod Rai has asked the CAC to complete the process by Tuesday evening, Sportstar reported.
“Mr Rai has asked the BCCI to announce the name of the head coach by Tuesday evening,” Sportstar quoted a BCCI official as saying. “He has spoken to the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and to the BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary and asked them to name the head coach.”
The CAC, comprising of India stalwarts Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, had met in Mumbai on Monday and interviewed five applicants for the position vacated by Anil Kumble after the Champions Trophy final last month. Following the meeting, Ganguly had told the media that the committee had a fruitful interaction with the applicants but a final decision would be taken only after they speak to Kohli once he returns.
Ganguly on Tuesday, though, was stumped by the COA’s sudden demand. He said that the Committee of Administrators were kept in the loop of the CAC’s decision to defer the announcement of the new coach.
“The COA was party to this decision (to defer the announcement). Need to speak with them to figure out what has changed. I don’t know what is the hurry when there is time,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by India Today.
Asked for his reaction on “I will speak to him. He is a very respected man.”
“This afternoon I was supposed to go to Delhi, but that has been cancelled. We will speak to him (Vinod Rai) because all that was announced yesterday was with everyone’s permission and everybody was on board.”
“He (Rai) has got the right (to ask us). The reason we wanted to (hold back) was because Virat is on a holiday to America, and you don’t want to disturb him in the break. If he is available on the phone, we will talk to him.”
Ganguly, however, clarified that Kohli would be available for a conference call.
“We will have a conference call this afternoon. We will speak with the COA. Virat is available to speak. If they want us to speak we will. I expected to be consulted as captain,” he said.
Reports on Tuesday morning had sugegsted that the COA had instructed the BCCI to announce name of the coach immediately.
Ganguly had insisted on the need to involve Kohli in the process of naming the new coach.
“Kohli needs to understand how different coaches operate,’’ Ganguly had said.
According to reports, the announcement is likely to be made later Tuesday following the CAC’s meeting with Kohli.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!