Why the delay in appointing a coach?

The appointment of an Indian coach is proving to be a long drawn out affair. Why are the BCCI dragging their heels over a matter that should have been decided by now? It is only adding to speculation and rumours and the sooner the appointment is made the better for everyone. It begs the question of whether there is any sort of planning in the BCCI. Should they have not been planning well ahead of time like England and Australia, where the new coaches are in place with a minimum of fuss. Why the big media circus and speculation doing the rounds?

It is like a big drama being played out in public to ignite the interest in the game again. First there is an interim coach,Ravi Shastri, who has no intentions of taking the permanent role, stating that his media commitments cannot be broken. I think anything is possible and everyone has a price. He has done a good job in fostering team unity again and is well liked and respected within cricketing circles but clearly the role does not interest him in the long term.

Now there is a continual list of possible candidates touted for the role, with Dav Whatmore heading the list. The way Whatmore announced his intentions for the role in the middle of a World Cup, whilst coaching Bangladesh, was in bad taste. It seems that he has been waiting for the opportunity to get his hands on the big job, with the high profile and money that will no doubt accompany it. There has since been discussions with the board during the Bangladesh series, which have confirmed nothing but added to the speculation.

Now we hear that the senior players would prefer a foreign coach and have stated as much to the board, whereas those on the selection committee, like Sunil Gavasker and Kapil Dev would prefer an Indian coach. Gavasker and Dev also seem to be against Whatmore and have been quite public about it.

It would seem that there is no clear process or main criteria for selection for what is a very important post. The board will meet on June 4th and seemingly make a decision. How long will that take one wonders and why wait until then or have they got more pressing issues to deal with?The team have a tour to England next month and surely the new coach would want to be involved in the pre -tour preparations as soon as possible.

I find the whole issue perplexing and cannot understand why it is not a more clear, quick and straight forward process. You could make a bollywood movie out of it in the meantime, making it a big suspense thriller, with the coach revealed at the end, filling the already full coffers of the BCCI.