New Delhi: The BCCI on Thursday invited applications for head coach’s post, sending a reminder to head coach Anil Kumble that he will not get an automatic extension after his current term expires at the end of Champions Trophy.
Interested candidates can apply by May 31st and will be interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
“To ensure a fair and completely transparent process, a nominee of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) will oversee the entire process along with the Cricket Advisory Committee,” the BCCI release stated.
BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said that board is happy with Kumble’s performance but they are trying to follow a due procedure.
“A process has been followed. There is nothing unusual about it. His contract was getting over on June 20 and we had to have a coach by June 21. He can obviously apply again. Just to make it clear, that BCCI is very happy with Kumble’s performance. The coach will be chosen not by anyone in the bcci. It will be done by Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman,”
Chaudhary said.
While Kumble being the current coach gets a “direct
entry” into the interview process, the timing of BCCI’s announcement makes it clear that the top brass has not exactly been happy with the legendary leg-spinner. The reason being the aggressive stance asking for a massive hike in central contracts for players and his own salary.
India had a great domestic season under Kumble winning 10 out of the 13 home Tests with two draws and a single defeat against Australia on a rank turner at Pune. Also under Kumble, India won a Test series comprehensively in the West Indies.
But of late, Kumble’s stance on players’ pay hike and the manner of his demands have not gone down well with the powers that be in the BCCI.
The surprising aspect has been the timing of the announcement for inviting fresh applications as the team just landed in UK on Thursdayfor their Champions Trophy defence.
