Jay Shah (L) is the secretary of BCCI
- Jay Shah denies approaching any former Australian cricketer.
- Ricky Ponting confirms having informal discussions.
- BCCI is looking for a coach with a proven track record.
Earlier today, Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), refuted claims of reaching out to any ex-Australian cricketer for the role of head coach for the national team. This comes a day after Ricky Ponting stated that he had a personal conversation about the position of head coach of the Indian Cricket Team with board officials during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
“I’ve seen a lot of reports about it,” Ponting shared with the ICC Review. “Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it.
“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.
“Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing.”
However, Shah contradicted these views by stating, “Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect.”
The BCCI is in the process of finding a new coach for the men’s team following the decision of ex-Indian captain, Rahul Dravid, to step down after the T20 World Cup 2024.
“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It’s crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level,” he added.
Furthermore, Ponting isn’t the only ex-Australian cricketer whose name has been in the mix since the Indian cricket officials announced that they were accepting applications for the head coach position.
Justin Langer, a former teammate of ex-captain Ponting and current coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), was also considered a contender, along with Gautam Gambir, a former Indian player, and ex-New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.
However, just like Ponting, Langer is not keen on replacing Dravid in the near future, though he might consider it later on.
The head coach of the Indian cricket team must have the ability to advance Indian Cricket.
“When we talk about international cricket, no role is more prestigious than that of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Team India commands the largest fan base globally, enjoying support that is truly unrivalled. Our rich history, passion for the game make this one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. The role demands a high level of professionalism as one gets to nurture some of the best cricketers in the world and an assembly line of talented cricketers to follow. Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour and the BCCI will pick the right candidate, capable of propelling Indian cricket forward,” Shah concluded.
