MUMBAI: The hunt for the new head coach for Indian cricket team still goes on and some 57 applications have been received so far for the position.
According to a spokesperson from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the board started to interview the applicants at a city hotel here on Tuesday.
“Applicants such as Anil Kumble, Lalchand Rajput, Praveen Amre, Sandeep Patil, Ravi Shastri and Venkatesh Prasad are likely to be interviewed before the day is out by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar will join the discussion from London through video conferencing,” said the spokesperson.
However, he said, it couldn’t yet be confirmed whether the foreigners who have applied, including former Australia cricketers Stuart Law, Tom Moody, and former Pakistani coach Dav Whatmore are some of the names doing the rounds, would be here or interviewed through video conferencing.
BCCI has shortlisted a total of 21 names from the 57 applications for the position.
Earlier last week, BCCI claimed that it has received some 57 applications so far for the position of head coach.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the vacancy earlier this month after Shastri’s contract ended after the World Twenty20 in April.
Former Bangladesh coach Stuart Law, former Pakistan’s Coach Dav Whatmore, current chief selector of Indian Cricket Board Sandeep Patil, former team director of Indian cricket board Ravi Shastri, and ex-fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad are among those to have publicly expressed interest.
Commenting on the selection, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that it would be also good if the board appoints a foreigner coach, but gets the ticket needed to have an understanding of the country’s “culture”.
“More than Hindi, English, one who understands our culture and our upbringing, the one who understands these sorts of things, he will always be better with us,” said Dhoni.
“In the past, too, these things have been important, and the coaches who have understood us better, it has made a difference at the ground level.”
