If reports are to be believed, legendary India opener Virender Sehwag has been asked to apply for the post of India coach and is expected to challenge current head coach Anil Kumble for the role, whose tenure expires following the end of Champions Trophy 2017 on June 18.
Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent out an invite, asking for former cricketers to apply for the Indian coaching hot-seat.
By doing so, the BCCI made it clear that Kumble won’t be given an automatic extension, but has been given a direct entry into the process where he will once again have to prove his credentials.
A BCCI official has told The Indian Express that the board during the IPL-10 approached Sehwag to run for the post.
“We have contacted Sehwag during the IPL and asked him to consider applying for the job of India coach. But he won’t be the only one applying because we expect other former players to also throw their hats in the ring,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying to Indian Express.
The official further revealed that the new coach’s tenure will extend till the 2019 World Cup and the BCCI wants to make the right selection.
“The board wants to go through the process of selection of coach again. Also, the next contract is likely to run until the 2019 World Cup, so even the length of the contract has to be taken into consideration before appointing the coach. We don’t want a scenario where the players and the coach are not on the same page,” said the BCCI official.
May 31 is the last date to apply for the post. The new Coach will be selected in the interview by the BCCI Advisory Committee that includes Tendulkar, Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
