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Why hiring a coach has to be a transparent process

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S Kannan
S KannanJun 25, 2017 | 10:57

Why hiring a coach has to be a transparent process

The calm after the storm can be quite deceptive.

After the devastation that took place in the Champions Trophy final, the Indian team has flown to the distant West Indies. The action seen on television is tepid. And with empty stands catching the eye, you could be sure very few are interested in this series.

In a way, India travelling to the Windies is a blessing in disguise for the team after the shocking loss to Pakistan last Sunday. The drama over Anil Kumble’s exit (or ouster?) gets more intriguing by the day.

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If, in the first phase of last week, Virat Kohli was portrayed as the only man behind Kumble’s leaving, there is a lot more now to suggest it wasn’t such a simple “game”.

The problem with Indian cricket today has more to do with administration than actual deficiencies in the team. For years, the story of plugs, leaks, plants, un-sourced reportage has found its way in print.

If you thought only former big heavyweight officials of the Indian cricket board were masters in it, nowadays, there are more people adding fuel to fire, quite literally. Yes, the newshounds have their “sources”. But leakage of communication exchanged between playing team members, coach and support staff is now being traced to officials and officers of the BCCI.

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Photo: Mail Today

One thought, with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) in place and a professional CEO to look after matters, things would change. It has been to the contrary.

Amidst all this chaos, Virat Kohli did well to steer clear of the controversy over Kumble’s exit. At the mandatory press conference in the West Indies, Kohli showed character when he said he respects “Anil bhai” and did not offer juicy bytes to the media. At the same time, what Kohli did was smart in talking about the sanctity of the dressing room and how he would not put in public domain what transpires in the dressing room.

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One wished he had preserved this sanctity before by telling his teammates to follow the same. In the initial days, when the Indian team landed in England, all spicy news reports on Kumble were being attributed to the “dressing room”.

To be sure, the sooner the Kumble topic is closed, the better for Indian cricket. Yes, he contributed to the game immensely and can take credit for the team winning so many matches. And if it’s true he gave the team a tongue-lashing after the loss to Pakistan, it was timely.

Kumble has gone and yet what he wrote to the CoA over wage hikes as a presentation is being “leaked” to the media. This gives rise to suspicion that there are plenty of people around who are more than eager to paint Kumble in bad colour. By inference, this means it’s not just Kohli who wanted Kumble out but officials and officer(s) in the Indian cricketing establishment.

One wonders how the high priests in the Cricket Advisory Committee — Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman — feel today. They had “offered” Kumble an extension is what we have been given to understand.

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The BCCI’s decision to invite fresh application for the coach’s job defies logic. The CAC should have first interviewed the candidates in fray — Virender Sehwag, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput, Dodda Ganesh and Richard Pybus.

Had the CAC said they were not happy with these applicants, it would have been in order to invite fresh applications. But then, if the whole idea is to rope in Ravi Shastri as coach, where was the need to do this?

Just to jog the readers’ memory, last year, Kumble had not even applied for the coach’s job. The CAC interviewed Kumble and brought him on board, leaving other contenders possibly red-faced.

Today, it’s impossible to believe anyone connected with Indian cricket. The impression being created is Virat Kohli wants Shastri as the coach, again. The bigger question is will the BCCI, CAC and CoA allow Kohli so much liberty that he gets to decide who will be the coach?

Recently, we heard Kohli first wanted Sehwag to apply. With Kumble out, it’s back to the chess board with Shastri’s name floating.

There are even reports which say Shastri met Kohli in London. Well, as a commentator, Shastri can surely meet the Indian skipper.

Today, Indian cricket governance needs clarity and transparency. Either you respect the CAC and give Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman the right to decide on the next coach in a fair and transparent manner. If it’s all about trying to “pick and choose” the coach and hoodwinking others who applied in right earnest, this needs to be condemned.

The public perception of Indian cricketers has again taken a beating. No balls bowled and genuine run-outs are being seen with suspicion. Please hire a coach who is the best man for the job and whose nationality doesn’t matter.

(Courtesy: Mail Today)

Last updated: June 26, 2017 | 11:57
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