11 July,2017 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
After interviewing five candidates for almost four hours, mindful CAC needs more time to decide Team India's next head coach; sources say Viru, not Ravi is now the frontrunner
BCCI's CAC member Sourav Ganguly (second from right) addresses the media while his colleague VVS Laxman (extreme left), acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and CEO Rahul Johri (right) look on at Wankhede Stadium's Cricket Centre yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
The BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) spent almost four hours at the Board's headquarters in Mumbai yesterday interviewing candidates for Team India's next head coach. Ravi Shastri, Lalchand Rajput, Tom Moody and Richard Pybus were interviewed via Skype at the Wankhede's Cricket Centre. Former India opener Virender Sehwag appeared in person to make his presentation to his ex-teammates Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar (who joined them on Skype from London). Sehwag was present at the BCCI headquarters for nearly two hours. The final announcement will be made only after the CAC meets India captain Virat Kohli, currently on a vacation in the United States.
Also Read: CAC is unaware of Virat Kohli wanting Ravi Shastri as India head coach
Virender Sehwag arrives for his interview at the BCCI HQ. Pic/Suresh Karkera
"To be honest, what we heard from the coaches today is nothing different from last year. We need a few more days to talk to the players, especially the captain. Then, we will make the announcement because we feel that there is no hurry at the moment. Whoever gets the opportunity to be the coach will be there with the India team till the 2019 World Cup," Ganguly said during the press conference after the conclusion of the interviews yesterday.
Also Read: Ganguly 'warns' Kohli, says he needs to understand how coaches operate
"We want to speak to Kohli and explain to him that coaches want to function in a certain way. We want to make sure that everybody is on the same page before the announcement is made," he added. With the CAC's decision to hold the announcement, it is very clear that Shastri, who shares a good rapport with Kohli, may not be the frontrunner this time. According to sources, Sehwag might pip Shastri in the race, but the CAC needs more inputs about him from Kohli and the Indian team. "We are not in a hurry. We are not only looking at the upcoming SL tour. We want to make sure we take the best possible decision for Indian cricket. The coach, captain and players are the ones who will take Indian cricket forward. The CAC goes out of the picture once the coach is selected. We are not going to play. We shouldn't be seen again six months down the line doing something different," Ganguly said.
