Ravi Shastri applies for the post of India’s head coach
Ravi Shastri, the outgoing director of the Indian cricket team, has applied for the post of the team’s head coach, reports revealed on Monday (June 6), four days shy of the deadline.
“Yes, I have applied for the chief coach’s post today morning. I have e-mailed all the requisite documents that were asked for in the advertisement,” the former Indian all-rounder, who played 80 Tests and 150 One-Day Internationals during his 11-year international career, confirmed to PTI.
Asked if he had prepared any presentation or roadmap, Shastri said, “Whatever is required by the BCCI, I have provided them. If you ask me whether I am confident or not, all I can say is that my job was to apply for the post and I have done that. I cannot comment on anything else.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formally advertised for the vacancy on June 1, with the deadline for the interested candidates being June 10. The BCCI is expected to screen and shortlist the candidates post 10th and announce the new coach before India’s upcoming tour of West Indies, starting July 21. The team flies out on July 6 and has two practice games scheduled to begin on July 9.
Apart from Shastri, Sandeep Patil, chairman of the national selection committee, had also applied for the high-profile post last week. Shastri served as the Team Director for 18 months, since the departure of the former coach Duncan Fletcher at the end of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Shastri’s contract ended with India’s exit at the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 at home.
During his tenure as team director, India’s notable achievements include a 3-0 whitewash of Australia in Twenty20 Internationals, One-Day International series win in England, away Test series win against Sri Lanka after 22 years, Test series win against South Africa at home, apart from the semi-final finishes in the 50-over and T20 World Cups.
BCCI had appointed Sanjay Bangar, former cricketer and current Kings XI Punjab head coach, as the interim coach for the MS Dhoni-led young squad for the Zimbabwe tour.
SOURCE: PTI