With three stalwarts of Indian cricket - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman - all set to decide on the new India coach in the first week of June, is it advantage Anil Kumble? The present coach was appointed by the trio last year and his former teammates may not want to change the status quo for at least another year. Kumble's tenure could, in fact, last till the 2019 World Cup, sources suggested to TOI on Sunday.
BCCL
"There are many in the BCCI and the CoA who didn't approve of Kumble going through the rigmarole (selection process) once again after being chosen last year. They feel that he has done a good job with the team in Tests against top teams," a source close to the development said Sources said that the CoA gave its go ahead only after BCCI officials insisted on starting the selection process again. Now, BCCI sources say that the former spin king shouldn't have agreed to a one-year contract. "Kumble committed a mistake by taking the one-year contract from BCCI last year. Thus, when BCCI office-bearers said the process had to be repeated in the name of transparency, the CoA couldn't say no," the source pointed out.
BCCL
TOI has learnt that BCCI CEO Rahul Johri would open the applications on May 31 before forwarding it to the CoA. With Ganguly and Tendulkar scheduled, as of now, to be in England during the interviews, the process would be completed through video-conference. Whether Kumble would be asked to join the interview once again wasn't made clear. But it is understood that if he is asked to appear in front of the panel, Kumble would do so. Meanwhile, a group within the BCCI is of the opinion that if there was anyone better than the current Indian coach, he should be given a chance to present his case. Citing the example of Ravi Shastri, who wasn't given an extended run with the team despite good results, the board functionaries said that they were only following the rule book.
BCCL
Reacting to Justice (retired) RM Lodha's comment to TOI on how CoA should focus more on governance rather than on management, the Supreme Courted-appointed administrators said that they were waiting for the apex court order before getting on with the implementation of the reforms. "How do you implement the Lodha reforms when the Supreme Court hasn't given clearance to it? The top court hasn't empowered the CoA to work freely. The amended constitution was uploaded in the website and removed later because the office-bearers raised questions over the FAQs," a CoA member, who didn't wish to be named, said.
BCCL
"There is lack of clarity on whether the FAQs are a part of the judgment and we have sought clarification from the top court through a status report. The moment we get directions from the Supreme Court, CoA is going to swing into action," a source said while adding that it won't take long to implement the reforms once the Supreme Court makes a clear-cut mandate.