Internet Desk: Responses of six candidates have been received by The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after its invitation for the post for the head coach of the country. May 31 was the last day to apply for the post.
According to the sources, four Indians have applied for the post of India coach. Former India opener Virender Sehwag, Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh have applied for the post, on the other hand India’s present coach will get a direct entry.
The two foreigners who have applied for the post are Tom Moody, the former Sri Lanka coach and Richard Pybus of England who was the coach of Pakistan once and is currently working with the West Indies team.
“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 Indian board had said in a press statement.
“The BCCI’s three-member advisory committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will conduct interviews and seek presentations to select the best possible candidate to guide the team and take Indian Cricket forward.”
However, the fact that a player of Sehwag’s stature has applied gives enough indication that everything is not right in the Indian dressing room.
Sehwag will only apply when he knows that he is a serious contender for the top job.
It will be interesting if Kumble finally appears for the interview knowing that Sehwag has applied for the post.
However many in BCCI feel that Sehwag, who is also a social media sensation, may demand an astronomical salary and then Moody, who gave a good presentation last time also, could come into the fray.
It may well happen that Moody, a proven international and IPL coach (Sri Lanka and Sunrisers Hyderabad) may be considered for the job.
Moody is a proto-type of John Wright and Gary Kirsten, two of the successful coaches of India. He is soft-spoken, more of a backroom man with a pleasing personality.
A two-time World Cup winner (1987 and 1999), 52-year-old Moody was an important member of Australia’s limited overs side till the late 90’s, representing the country in 76 ODIs.
Pybus doesn’t have great cricketing pedigree having played only one first-class match but is rated highly as a strategist. He has coached Pakistan national side twice.
Rajput and Ganesh could at best be the fillers with the latter being an aspirant for the fast bowling coach’s job.
However if Zaheer Khan is ever keen to take up the job, then BCCI may not look elsewhere.
The interviews are supposed to be held in England only. A few may join the interview via Skype.
Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, part of the cricket advisory committee, and Sehwag are currently in England as part of the commentary team for the Star Sports in the Champions Trophy.