The Board Of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has distinctly rubbished all claims surrounding Rahul Dravid replacing Anil Kumble as the team’s head coach.
On Saturday, several media outlets spread the news that Anil Kumble would resign as India’s coach post the completion of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and take over the role of the Team Director.
It was also said Dravid would then take over as the head coach of the national team, after having gained experience in coaching the India A and U-19 teams.
The BCCI Committee of Administrators (CoA), on Sunday, clearly denied all such reports and said Kumble wouldn’t vacate his role of the head coach. CoA member Diana Edulji has denied any such claims and said Kumble’s contract as the head coach is valid till the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England. After that, it’ll be upto Kumble to either continue or vacate his role.
The report mentioned the BCCI’s urge to adopt an organizational structure similar to that of the ECB.
“We need to move ahead with the times and that is why these structural changes are looked at. If it happens, Indian cricket will benefit, as one person will handle all the teams and there will be better coordination between all concerned. The plan is already in place and there is a strong possibility that when new contracts are given out, these changes will be made,” a BCCI source mentioned.
“It is too early to say whether Kumble will take up the role or not. Being the coach and team director with new responsibility is no easy thing as it needs a lot of dedicated time. The amount of cricket we play might burn him out. If he doesn’t, we need the back-up as we can’t let the team getting affected, particularly with the Champions Trophy coming up,” the source concluded.