The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has delayed the appointment of team managers for India A and Under 19 side. The board had shortlisted few of the names for the post and was to announce the final name today but deferred the decision due to lack of future fixtures for these two sides,
“At one point of time, Arman Malik was said to be in the running to be appointed India A manager and the choice for India U-19 manager was between Prakash Bhatt and Shankar Saini. However, Malik does not qualify as he does not have a single first class match against his name. Later, it was decided that since India A and U-19 teams do not have as many series as the senior team, there is no need to appoint a full-time manager. BCCI can depute somebody from its administration to perform the duty as and when required,” a BCCI official told PTI.
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It is to be noted that India A side is currently in South Africa for a tri series and two unofficial Test matches against South Africa A whereas India Under 19 team is currently in England to play a series against the hosts. Both the teams are sans any team manager but it is a fact that they also play just a few series and hence, BCCI felt no need of getting a permanent man for the job.
India A side plays only one overseas series in one year and hardly plays any home bilateral series against any visiting side. India Under 19 side though has played a few games since Rahul Dravid has taken up the role of the coach but there as well the distance between two consecutive series is quite long.
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Meanwhile, BCCI has announced a permanent team manager for the senior team. Sunil Subramaniam, the childhood coach of Indian off-spinner R Ashwin, has been appointed as the team manager of the team for a period of the one year. He will join the team ahead of the start of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
This was the first time when BCCI advertised for the post of team manager and asked only experienced men to have a go at it. A total of six candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by the board and Subramaniam emerged out as the winner in the end.
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