Soon after Anil Kumble resigned from India’s Head Coach post, there have been many names who were expected candidates for the vacancy. But, Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) did not seem to be satisfied with the people who had send their names to coach the Indian Cricket Team. Whereas it seems like skipper Virat Kohli’s recommendation has become the top priority for BCCI as they have attempted to rope in former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri to fill Kumble’s shoes. But BCCI has encountered a new problem with Shastri asking for ‘job security’ before taking up India’s Head Coach post.
According to CricketNext’s BCCI source, “It is no secret that skipper Virat Kohli wants Shastri back at helm and Shastri was spoken to so that he applies for the interview process, but the former team director isn’t willing to be in a position where his claim is rejected again. He has made it clear that he will speak to the BCCI or CAC on this matter only if he is given a guarantee that he will be handed the job. There is no question of joining a queue and hoping that he is considered for the post.”
“I don’t want to discuss this matter – (re-application for the post of coach) – as it is a call that has been taken keeping the on-going situation in mind. All I can guarantee is that the Indian team will get a new coach before the Sri Lanka tour and whoever is handed the job will get a contract till the 2019 World Cup,” he added.
It is so heartening to see @imVkohli grow as a leader every time he walks in ahead of a game #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cVTzUJOnom
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) March 16, 2017
The BCCI source made a comment on the issue as well, he said, “Issues and rifts are not bigger than Indian cricket. We have handed the job of picking the suitable candidate to three men who have always had Indian cricket’s best interest on their mind and we feel that whoever they pick will be the best person for the job,”
“The doors are open for Shastri if the CAC wants to interview him. As per the current rules, Shastri is not eligible because he has not submitted his resume. But the CAC has the authority to request the BCCI to allow the interview of candidates from the outside who they deem fit for the position. For that to happen, all the CAC will need to do is submit a special request. But all this can happen only if the CAC wants. If they are happy to interview just those who have applied, then obviously the door is closed for Shastri.
“It is not something new or unheard of. It happens not only in big corporates but also in top government positions wherein people from the outside are also interviewed in certain cases. At the end of the day, it is for the CAC to decide what is best for Indian cricket and if they feel the man who can do the job is Shastri, then why not,” the source concluded.
