BCCI invites head coach applications
BCCI is inviting applications for the role of head coach, and is looking to finalize its entire coaching staff at the earliest. With a tour to Zimbabwe lined up, new BCCI President Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke have moved quickly to address the issue and have set June 10 as the deadline.
In his first media interaction as the BCCI President, Thakur’s propositions might signal the end of Ravi Shahstri, who has been serving as the team director for the Indian Team for over a year, and could mean that Ravi Shastri might not be travelling to Zimbabwe with the team.
As for the other roles: R.Sridhar(asst. coach), Sanjay Bangar(batting coach) and B.Arun(bowling coach), will all need to re-apply in order to have the chance of  continuing in their present roles. “It is open to everyone, whether current support staff, from outside India or within India. Anyone who is keen to coach the Indian team or take up other responsibilities,” Thakur said.
The BCCI have contacted several high-profile former international players and approached them for the head coach’s job. “This is just part of the transparency initiative. Anybody who feels eligible may apply. We are just widening the net so that everybody feels he can be part of the Indian coaching staff if judged to be the best,” said Shirke.
With the Indian cricket team functioning without a head coach since the end of the 2015 World Cup, Thakur and Shirke have been quick to act and have assured of an appointment within two months. “If you have to go for the best you can’t go with limited choices. So we are keeping it open,” Thakur concluded.