New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The BCCI invited applications Thursday for the Indian cricket team’s head coach’s post. It was a reminder to the present coach Anil Kumble that he would not get an automatic extension after his contract expires after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament.
Interested candidates can apply by May 31st and will be interviewed by the cricket advisory committee (CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
“To ensure a fair and completely transparent process, a nominee of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) will oversee the entire process along with the CAC,” the BCCI release stated Thursday.
BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said that board is happy with Kumble’s performance but they are trying to follow a due procedure.
However, the story lies elsewhere. According to sources the BCCI top brass is not very happy at the way Kumble and skipper of the team Virat Kohli got together to demand a huge raise (more than 150%) for the national players.
The meeting took place on the day of the IPL final at Hyderabad and was attended by Kumble, senior members of the BCCI as well as a couple of members of the CoA. During the meeting it has been alleged that Kumble also demanded a huge hike in his remunerations. Currently BCCI pays Kumble an annual remuneration of `6.25 crore approximately. The highest wicket-taker in Indian cricket allegedly wanted that amount to be raised to `7.5 crore. It was this demand that ticked off the BCCI to a great extent.
Peeved at the demands made by Kumble and Kohli, the BCCI has now decided to act tough. If indications are to be believed, then another of Kumble’s contemporaries, Rahul Dravid, has already been approached to take over as the head coach. It is another matter whether Dravid, the gentleman that he is, would agree to such a proposition. But the signals from the BCCI are clear, if they have an option in place of Kumble, they will embrace it with both hands.
Kumble took over the reins of the Indian team June 23, 2016. Under his management, India have become the No.1 Test-playing nation in the world. India also won their home ODI series against New Zealand and England during Kumble’s tenure. Had the Karnataka leg-spinner refrained from seeking such a hike, the board would have certainly allowed the status quo to continue. But now, they have sent a strong signal to Kumble that he cannot take his place for granted.
Chaudhary, however, played down the speculations. “Just to make it clear, the BCCI is very happy with Kumble’s performance. The coach will be chosen not by anyone in the BCCI. It will be done by Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman,” he said. “Kumble being the current coach will get a direct entry into the interview,” he added.
The surprising aspect has been the timing of the announcement for inviting fresh applications as the team just landed in UK, Thursday for their Champions Trophy defence.
“Obviously BCCI could have waited till the end of the Champions Trophy to invite applications. But then no one should take his place for granted,” an official said.
“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,” he added.
Agencies/PNN
