As BCCI is hunting for a new coach they had invited applications from interested candidates in the month of May.
Anil Kumble”s name was automatically drafted in while Virender Sehwag, Lalchand Rajput, Tom Moody, Richard Pybus and Dodda Ganesh threw their hats in the ring. The last date to submit application was 31st May.
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of legendary batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman is handed over the responsibility of selecting India”s coach. It”s upto CAC to decide whether to conduct interviews of the candidates or renew Kumble”s contract.
After Champions Trophy India are all set for a short limited overs tour to Caribbean consisting of 5 ODIS and 1 T20I commencing from 23 June. The Champions Trophy ends on 18 June and hence there is only 4 clear days gap should India reach the final. This time too short to bring in a big change like new coach.
Hence it is thought by the BCCI officials that Kumble should be retained for Caribbean tour and if new coach is picked he should take over the reins from Sri Lanka tour which starts in August.
Kumble has now been officially appointed as the coach of Team India for the Caribbean tour. “Anil Kumble will continue as Indian team”s coach till the West Indies series, subject to his acceptance” said Vinod Rai.
India play 5 ODIS in WI. The first two will be played at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain Trinidad. The series moves to the lovely islands of Antigua and Barbuda for 3rd and 4th ODI and then teams play the last ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica followed by a T20I at the same venue.
Tour Schedule
1st ODI – 23 June at Trinidad
2nd ODI – 25 June at Trinidad
3rd ODI – 30 June at Antigua
4th ODI – 2 July at Antigua
5th ODI – 6 July at Jamaica
Only T20I – 9 July at Jamaica
– by Atharva Apte
