Kumble Leads Coach Race, Formal Decision to be Made After WI Tour?

After a meeting on Thursday, the Cricket Advisory Committee has sought more time to decide on Anil Kumble’s future.

Reports of a rift between skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble have surfaced. (Photo: IANS)

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) – comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – has sought more time to decide on Anil Kumble's future as the Indian cricket team’s head coach.

The three-member committee met on Thursday evening in London and had a nearly two-hour discussion on the issue of the new coach's appointment, but then informed BCCI CEO Rahul Johri that they would need more time.

With majority of the senior members – including acting BCCI President CK Khanna and IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla – against the hasty removal of Kumble, the chances of the spin legend getting an extension has increased manifold.

The Committee of Administrators running the BCCI is also unlikely to go against the high-profile Cricket Advisory Committee's decision on who will be the next Indian cricket team coach.

Anil Kumble's contract with the national team expires after the Champions Trophy and he too has reapplied for the post with other top candidates being Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody among others.

The COA will not interfere in the coach recruitment process. It will go by whatever the CAC (comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman) decides.

A Source Close to COA

However, Vinod Rai-led COA, like CAC, too is against replacing Kumble, under whom the team has done well in the last 12 months.

Accordingly, a press release was issued by acting BCCI Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI met today (Thursday) and discussed the process with regard to the selection of the head coach of the Senior India men’s team and it was decided by the CAC to revert to the BCCI at an appropriate time,” the BCCI release stated.

The trio of Ganguly, Laxman and Tendulkar, who had roped in Kumble in place of Ravi Shastri last year, are not too keen on replacing the legendary leg-spinner, following his successful coaching tenure the past year, reported PTI.

In fact, acting president Khanna after consultation with senior members like Shukla, wrote a letter to Amitabh Chaudhary requesting him to defer the coach recruitment process till BCCI's Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held on 26 June in Mumbai.

A senior BCCI source said that the CAC feels that no difference of opinion could be bigger than interest of the national team.

Also Read: Why Tom Moody Is Better Qualified to Coach India Than Sehwag

There are disagreements in all teams but things shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. Also the timing of this controversy has been bad. However, if we replace Kumble in a jiffy, it might send a signal to Virat that now he can also have an opinion on administrative decisions. It will set a bad precedent.

Senior BCCI Official 

The deferment means that Kumble could go on the West Indies tour right after the Champions Trophy. In case Kumble doesn't go, assistant coach Sanjay Bangar would be accompanying the team.

Also Read: Coach Kumble Likely to Be Retained as “Message” to Kohli: Reports

(With inputs from PTI.)