The race for the Indian cricket coach continues to throw up surprises with former South African batsman Gary Kirsten emerging as a front-runner.
MUMBAI: Once bitten, the Board of Control for Cricket in India seems to have become extra shy. Having burnt its fingers on the issue of the coach — read the hype and fracas surrounding the interview, appointment and subsequent rejection of Graham Ford — the Board this time is doing things in a cautions manner.
While it has been maintaining that the coach will be appointed in about a week, it has already started doing an interview.
At the time of going to print, former South Africa opener and vice-captain Gary Kirsten was being interviewed by top officials of the BCCI. Among those interviewing Kirsten at a five-star hotel in New Delhi were special coach committee members and former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
It could not confirmed immediately if the other former captain in the committee — S Venkataraghavan — was present or not. However, other members of the committee — secretary Niranjan Shah, BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan and joint secretary MP Pandove were there. Board president Sharad Pawar’s presence could not be confirmed.
Kirsten, who worked as batting coach of South Africa when India toured the country last year, landed in India only on Monday afternoon after an SoS from the BCCI. His arrival was strictly kept a secret by Board authorities who literally whisked him away from the New Delhi airport.
None of the Board officials could be reached for confirmation but the hotel staff, where he was put up, confirmed to DNA that the South African had in fact checked in on Monday afternoon. The staff even took a message for Kirsten from this reporter.
The interview with Kirsten was to take place in the afternoon but it had to be put off due to delay in the Indian Premier League meeting, which began in the afternoon, instead of morning.
One may have to wait for some time for the outcome of the interview, but it has been learnt that Kirsten has shown a keen interest to take up the Indian job. He is believed to have been strongly recommended by Shastri.
Interestingly enough, the Board secretary said on Monday evening that they would pick a candidate from the 22 applications they received in response to their advertisement. And, again, interestingly enough, Kirsten was not one of those who applied for the job.
It is also learnt that the Board is not investing all its hopes on the South African alone. If Kirsten goes Ford’s way, the BCCI has kept open the option of sending Dav Whatmore, director, operations, of the National Cricket Academy, to Australia as a temporary option. However, such situation may not arise as Kirsten seems to be an interested party.
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