Mumbai:
The Indian team is unlikely to get a new coach anytime soon with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee member Sourav Ganguly today saying it will take another couple of months to find a suitable candidate for the high-profile position. This means the team will be without a full-time coach during its tour of Zimbabwe beginning June 11.
“It will happen in the next couple of months. I am not too sure if it happens before the Zimbabwe tour because it is not too far away,” said Ganguly, who is on the advisory panel, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
Post the short tour of Zimbabwe, India travel to the West Indies for a four-match Test series in July-August.
Since Duncan Fletcher’s departure, India played under the guidance of team director Ravi Shastri, whose tenure ended with the World T20 in March-April.
Talking about day-night Test cricket, Ganguly said it is a welcome change for the longest format. The BCCI has already announced that it will host its first-ever day-night Test against New Zealand in October-November.
“Day night is a must and I think it will happen in India soon. I think Test cricket is the best form of the game. For any cricketer, it is the ultimate challenge and ultimate judgement of a player. It needs innovation and day night cricket is the best way forward,” said Ganguly.
Asked about the timing of Anurag Thakur’s elevation as BCCI president, Ganguly said every job comes with its set of challenges. Thakur takes charge of the BCCI at a time when the board faces a huge challenge of implementing the Lodha Committee recommendations.
Is it a crown of thorns at the moment? “I don’t think so,” said Ganguly.
“Every job comes with challenges. I don’t think it is a crown of thorns, whether you open in a Test match against the best fast bowling attack in the world or you are the BCCI president or the association president. Every job comes with challenges. I think BCCI is in a great position in terms of the way the game goes around in the country. I am sure he will take the team forward.
“We will have to wait and see what comes out with the judgement. Hopefully, the board can find a way to carry the good work done for such a long time. Whatever happens (judgement) we will have to deal with it. The board is in good hands, the players (both international and first class) are looked after well and you have a big tournament like the IPL. Every job in the world has positives and negatives,” he added.
