Internet Desk: The drama surrounding the appointment of the support staff of the Indian team continues as the Committee of Administrators on Saturday appointed a new four member committee to discuss the issue with coach Ravi Shastri on July 19 at Mumbai. The decision also puts a hold on the appointment of Dravid and Zaheer as consultants of the Indian team. The four member committee included the BCCI acting president Mr CK Khanna, CoA representative Diana Eduljee, BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhury and CEO Rahul Johuri.
The CoA met today to deliberate on the future course of action after Shastri wanted to have former bowling coach Bharat Arun in the team. The Cricket Advisory Committee had earlier selected Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan as batting and bowling consultants on a series by series basis. But, today’s decision puts a hold on Dravid’s and Zaheer’s appointment. It also means that both of them are unlikely to travel with the team on July 19 to Sri Lanka.
“We have taken all the recommendations of the CAC for Ravi Shastri as head coach and we will further discuss with him appointment of other coaches. We have set up a committee and they will speak to them (CAC), communicate with them after talking to Shastri. The support staff has been decided in consultation with the head coach,” Rai told reporters after the meeting.
“Three appointments which are core to the coaching team have been decided. But we have to consult each one of them, we have to ascertain their willingness and have to ensure that there is no conflict of interest issue.
The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had named Shastri as head coach while Dravid and Khan were appointed batting and bowling consultants respectively for specific overseas tours.
However, the CoA clarified that they (Zaheer and Dravid) were mere recommendations and appointments.
“There is no such thing as contract as yet. It’s only a recommendation. It’s not an appointment. A recommendation has been made and the CoA has to act on the recommendation, that recommendation will be acted upon in consultation with the head coach.”
Shastri was supposed to meet the CoA on Monday in Mumbai. But now the meeting will take place on July 19 in Mumbai. The CoA will next meet on July 22.
While the BCCI has already clarified in a statement that Zaheer’s appointment is on a tour-to-tour basis, it is clear that he will be spending around five months with the Indian team.
Earlier there were reports which said that Shastri was unhappy with the appointment of Zaheer as bowling coach as he wanted to bring his trusted man Arun for the job.