Press Trust of India
New Delhi, April 1: BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said Friday that team director (TD) Ravi Shastri’s contract has ended but it can be up for renewal if the high-profile cricket advisory committee (CAC) comprising Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, deems it fit. However, if the contract is renewed it will be of a full time coach and not TD.
“Ravi Shastri’s contract has ended. We are looking at a full time coach and the decision will be taken by the CAC. However, there won’t be a team director and a full time coach. It will be only one post and even Ravi’s contract can come up for renewal,” Thakur stated.
Asked about chances of Shastri, who has been a popular choice among some of the seniors, getting a second term, Thakur said: “It will entirely be CAC’s call. It has been asked to shortlist the names of the possible candidates for the post.”
The decision on the new appointment or renewal will be taken after the ICC World T20 final between West Indies and England in Kolkata, Sunday. “The meeting can happen before the start of the IPL also. We are coordinating on the availability of all the CAC members,” CAC informed.
Shastri had taken over in 2014 after India lost the Test series against England 1-3. Under him, the Indian team won the ODI series in England, lost the Test series in Australia 0-2 and did not qualify for the finals of the tri-series.
But his highs were guiding the team to the semifinals of the 50-over World Cup, and a 3-0 whitewash of the Aussies in the T20 Internationals, Down Under. Also under him, India won an away Test series after 22 years when they defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in 2015 and a 3-0 blanking of South Africa at home.