BCCI Still Undecided over New India Coach, To Make Decision Before Bangladesh Tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pondering on the decision of appointing former India skipper and batsman Sourav Ganguly as the new team director, ahead of their tour of Bangladesh this June. 

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur met the board's president Jagmohan Dalmiya at the former's residence in Kolkata on Monday. They met to decide on who would be taking up the position of India coach left vacant by Duncan Fletcher, while also discussing the possibility of appointing a high-performance and advisory committee for Indian cricket. 

Thakur had said on Monday that the Board will be deciding on Sourav Ganguly's posible position in the setup soon. "Sourav's contribution to Indian cricket has been great. He's been a great cricketer. It will be worth waiting and whatever will be decided will be in the interest of the Indian cricket. There's a lot of speculation in the media regarding Sourav and the role of the coach. Give us some time to decide on that," Thakur said after the IPL governing council meeting.

The Board president doesn't want Ganguly to take up a full-time coaching assignment as it would hamper his role at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Ganguly holds the crucial position of joint secretary of CAB.

The names of Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have been doing the rounds after many such meetings, but the BCCI have still not come up with any firm name.

"We're talking to many cricketers for the advisory board. We're waiting for the go-ahead from them." Thakur said when asked about Sachin Tendulkar's possible appointment as an advisor.

India are set to tour Bangladesh this June, with the first Test match scheduled to start on 10 June 10 in Fatullah. The team has been selected, but the board is still dragging their feet on deciding on the new coach and support staff. 

"Team India will arrive on 5 June 5. There will be a fitness test on the next day and team will leave for Bangladesh on 7 June 7. The names of team director and support staff will be announced before that," Thakur added.