Six candidates shortlisted by BCCI for India head coach role

Current head coach Ravi Shastri is part of the shortlisted names.

Ravi Shastri | Getty

Ravi Shastri and five others were shortlisted on Monday (August 12) by the BCCI to contest for the position of India's next head coach beyond the ongoing tour of West Indies. 

Besides Shastri, who was given an automatic entry into the recruitment process along with rest of his backroom staff, former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, ex-Australia all-rounder and Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody, former West Indies all-rounder and Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons, ex-India team manager Lalchand Rajput and former India fielding coach Robin Singh are part of the list. 

These six individuals will give a presentation of their vision in interviews to the newly appointed Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). And, a final decision on the matter will be taken by the end of this week or early next week.

The CAC also features Anshuman Gaekwad and former women’s team captain Shantha Rangaswamy.

"These six will give presentation for head coach before CAC. It has been learnt that these six have been short-listed for interview with the CAC,” a senior BCCI official close to the matter told PTI

Before flying over to the Caribbean, skipper Virat Kohli had publicly advocated Shastri's reinstation. And even, Gaekwad, one of the members of the CAC, had backed the former India all-rounder to continue in his position. 

Hence, despite proven records and expertise of other candidates, it will be really tough for them to challenge Shastri at the helm of affairs. 

As per the new BCCI constitution, whether the rest of the backroom staff - bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar - are retained or not, will be decided by the national selection panel. 

They too, like Shastri, were given a 45-day extension to cover the tour of West Indies and a direct entry into the recruitment process. 

(Inputs from PTI)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 13 Aug, 2019

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