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New Delhi, May 26
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) today invited applications for the post of head coach, making it clear that Anil Kumble will not get an automatic extension after his term expires at the end of the Champions Trophy. The interested candidates can apply by May 31, and they will be interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
“To ensure a fair and transparent process, a nominee of the Committee of Administrators (COA) will oversee the entire process along with CAC,” BCCI said in a press release.
BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said the board was happy with Kumble’s performance, and they were just following a due procedure. “A process has been followed. There is nothing unusual about it. His contract is getting over on June 20, and we need to have a coach by June 21. He can obviously apply again. BCCI is happy with Kumble’s performance. The coach will be chosen not by anyone in BCCI, it will be done by Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman,” said Chaudhary.
Despite Chaudhary insisting that the board was merely following a process, the timing of the announcement makes it clear that the top brass isn’t happy with the legendary leg-spinner.
It has been learnt that Kumble’s demand for a massive hike in yearly retainers for the players and support staff has irked BCCI’s top brass. “BCCI could have waited till the end of the Champions Trophy to invite the applications. But then no one should take his place for granted,” said a BCCI official. “Kumble is bargaining for himself as well as the players. Fair enough, but tomorrow if BCCI decides to replace him, he will not be in a position to bargain. Some of his demands have been simply inexplicable,” the official said.
The BCCI brass is upset that Kumble demanded 25 percent extra “captaincy fees” for Virat Kohli as he takes extra burden. His demand for a position in the selection committee as head coach has also not gone down well with the board.
As per the BCCI constitution, the coach or the captain attends selection meetings but they don’t have a vote. The board is unlikely to consider most of Kumble’s suggestions; it has already refused to increase the amount, which is 26 percent of its total revenue, that it reserves for the players. — PTI
Skipper sees nothing wrong in BCCI’s move
Virat Kohli, however, does not see anything sinister in BCCI inviting applications for the post of head coach. “The process has been followed every single time the similar way for the past so many years,” Kohli said in London. “Even the last time, the post was up for a change, the same procedure was applied. And the term being one year, obviously the procedure is being followed in the same manner.”
“So I don’t see anything very different from what has happened in the past. So, yes, I don’t have any more information on it because there is a committee that takes those decisions, and they’re following the same pattern that’s been followed in the past as well,” the skipper said. When asked specifically about Anil Kumble’s contribution, Kohli said when a team does well, it is due to an equal contribution from all and sundry. “Obviously, when you have had results come your way, the contribution is from every part of the team. It’s not from a single source, to say the least. Everyone works equally hard,” the skipper said.
