New Delhi, May 24: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) have refuted former Australian captain and Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting's claim that he was approached for coaching Team India.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah formally dismissed the recent reports suggesting that the board has approached former Australian cricketers for the position of head coach of the men's national team.
Shah issued a statement on Friday, clarifying that these rumours hold no merit and reiterated that the BCCI has not approached any former Australian players for the coaching role.
BCCI is looking for a new head coach for the men's cricket team as Rahul Dravid's stint will come to an end at the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
On May 13, Indian board invited applications for Dravid’s successor at the top job, with a deadline set for May 27. The next India head coach would be appointed for the time period from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2027.
Former Australia captain Ponting, who finished the IPL 2024 as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals, had revealed that he has been recently approached about taking over from Rahul Dravid as India's next head coach.
"There were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it," Ponting had told the ICC.
However, the BCCI secretary has denied such reports saying, "Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect. Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process."
"We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It's crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level," he added.
With Jay Shah clearly turning down Ponting's claim, it would be interesting to see who succeeds Team India head coach Rahul Dravid. With both Dravid and VVS Laxman reportedly expressing their unwillingness for the job, the other names being talked about are former India player Gautam Gambhir and New Zealand cricket icon Stephen Fleming. However, there may be some other contenders for the high profile job. (With IANS support)
