Former India Team Director Ravi Shastri is set to apply for the post of chief coach of the Indian cricket team after the BCCI decided to extend the deadline till 9 July.
Yes, Ravi is very interested and will be applying for the coach’s post very soon.A source close to BCCI
It was learnt that if Shastri applies, he will first need an assurance that he will be given a full two-year contract till the 2019 World Cup.
The former India player also wants to pick his own team of support staff, including bowling coach Bharath Arun, who had done a commendable job during his time with the team.
Shastri, who was the Team Director from August 2014 to June 2016, was replaced by spin legend Anil Kumble, who recently stepped down due to his differences with skipper Virat Kohli.
The BCCI in May began the application process for the head coach job, when Kumble’s one-year contract was coming to an end.
Former team India players Virender Sehwag and Dodda Ganesh, former India A coach Lalchand Rajput, former English cricket coach Richard Pybus, and former Australia player Tom Moody had applied for the post.
However, Ravi Shastri was not interested in becoming the head coach of the Indian team at time.
According to The Times of India, Virat Kohli had asked two members of the Cricket Advisory Committee – Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman to include Shastri in the coach selection process, before leaving for the Champions Trophy in May.
Shastri had a successful stint as the Indian team director during September 2014 and March 2016.
India won an ODI series in England 3-1, made it to the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup, won a Test series against Sri Lanka in 2015, after 22 years, and won a T20 series 3-0 in Australia.
The BCCI has confirmed that the new head coach will be announced before India’s tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on 26 July.
(With inputs from PTI)
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