Will Gary Kirsten not renew his contract with BCCI?

Are Gary Kirsten’s days with team India numbered? There is no official confirmation as yet but indications are that the South African has decided not to continue with the team after the World Cup for family reasons.

He is believed to have conveyed this to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Kirsten’s contract with the Men in Blue runs up to the World Cup in February-April next year.

On a day when Cricket South Africa (CSA) made an official announcement for its search for a new coach, post World Cup, there was a renewed talk about Kirsten’s future with the Men in Blue.

The media here has been, for some time, agog with reports and speculation that the India coach will agree to take the place of Corrie van Zyl, the current South Africa coach, “who will return to his permanent post as head coach of CSA’s High Performance Centre at the end of the World Cup.”

Thursday’s announcement of coach selection process by the CSA is set to fuel further speculation on this issue.

“CSA is casting its net far and wide to find the right person to replace caretaker Corrie. The appointment will be for a two-year period. Applications close on January 7, 2011 and the interview process will follow shortly thereafter,” an official release from Gerald Majola, CSA CEO, said.

“I have not decided if I will apply for the post,” Kirsten told DNA.

When specifically asked if he has discussed about his future with the BCCI, the coach said he would not be willing to talk about it because it is a private matter.

“I have held so many discussions with BCCI and I cannot talk about them because they are private discussions,” he remarked.

Kirsten, who addressed the media on Thursday, insisted his focus is on the current series. The Board insiders have revealed to this paper that Kirsten is not willing to renew the contract as he wants to spend time with his family. But N Srinivasan refused to be drawn into speculation.

“I have nothing to say on such speculations,” the BCCI secretary said.

On the eve of the first Test, skipper MS Dhoni had hinted that Kirsten may be leaving the team for his family commitments. “He wants to spend time with his family. That will be the most crucial thing apart from the money aspect. He has given [the Indian team] whatever he could, the best he could, and of course it was a pleasure to have him in the side, but then again it is a decision he will have to take,” Dhoni had said.

The South Africa board has appointed a panel to select the new coach. To be headed by Majola, the panel will comprise Corrie, Andrew Hudson (selection convener), Andrew O’Connor (chairman, Cricket Committee) and Boeta Dippenaar (SA Cricketers’ Association representative).

“CSA believes that the Proteas have the right balance and skills to be the best in the world and now we are looking for the right coach and surrounding management structures to take them to that level and keep them there,” Majola said.