The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chairman of the national selection committee, Sandeep Patil, has confirmed that he has applied for the vacant India coach post. But Patil rubbished reports that said the BCCI must have asked him to apply for the post.
India do not have a permanent coach at present after the tenure of Ravi Shastri as team director came to an end with the conclusion of the World T20 in April. It was only a few days ago that the BCCI invited applications for the post, and Patil has expressed interest in becoming the new coach for India.
Patil is not new to coaching, having guided junior India teams in the past along with some international teams such as Kenya and Oman. However, coaching India is a different thing altogether as it is one of the most prestigious jobs in the world, although he had done it for some time in 1996.
"What the news channels are showing is absolute nonsense.The BCCI had advertised for the coach's job and I have offered my services," Zee News quoted Patil as saying.
"I have the desire to contribute whatever little I have to Indian cricket and the kind of experience I had starting with India under-19, India A', the Indian team, MP, Kenya and Oman. There can be a thousand better coaches than me and it will ultimately be the BCCI and the CAC's call."
India, who will face Zimbabwe in the limited-overs series starting June 11, do not have a permanent coach. Sanjay Bangar has been given the important role for the tour.
Besides Patil, former team director Shastri, who has good backing of the senior players, is also expected to file his application for the job, and is a huge favourite. The names of other contenders like Daniel Vettori and Rahul Dravid have also been doing the rounds, but the final call remains with the BCCI.
Patil seems to be quite determined for the job, as this is for the first time he has applied for such post on his own. "Since 1994 when I was appointed as the coach of the India U-19 team till I was made the chief selector, I have always been approached by the BCCI. This is for the first time in my life I'm applying," Patil said.
