BCCI sounds other Boards on coach issue

BANGALORE: Two days after downplaying the importance of a coach for the national team, Cricket Board resident Sharad Pawar on Friday disclosed that the BCCI had sent communications to various Boards to suggest names for the post left vacant by Greg Chappell after the World Cup.

Pawar said the Boards of Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and England have been sounded about the requirements for the coach, expected to be appointed in a month's time.

"Once the BCCI gets the names, it would consult its three-member selection panel appointed for the purpose and finalise the coach," Pawar said.

"It will take one month's time to get all the details from different Boards, study and finalise," he added.

The BCCI Chief also said the present bowling and fielding coach of Indian team, Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, would continue in their positions for the year and the Board would decide thereafter whether to continue with their services.

"They have done extremely good job. All the players are extremely happy," he said.

He, however, denied that there was any proposal before the BCCI to pick former coach Greg Chappell for a role at the National Cricket Academy.

"That's not the thing as on today. There is no such proposal."

Suggestion might have been made by somebody but there's no specific proposal."