Mumbai, May 24 (UNI) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly denied making any coaching offers to former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting or Justin Langer.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah clarified the situation following reports quoting the Australians. "Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer," Shah stated.
Shah emphasised that the next coach for the Indian team, who will succeed Rahul Dravid, should possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure. "Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who have risen through the ranks and have an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level," he said.
Media outlets had speculated that Ponting, Langer, and Stephen Fleming were being considered for the role, as Dravid is expected to step down after the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
Ponting mentioned in an ICC Review interview that there were informal discussions during the IPL to gauge his interest, with his family encouraging him to consider the job.
Langer also indicated that he had been approached by the BCCI and discussed the matter with KL Rahul, the captain of the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, which he coaches. However, Langer remained non-committal when asked about his interest in the role after a game in Mumbai.
Shah underscored the prestige of the Head Coach position for Team India. "When we talk about international cricket, no role is more prestigious than that of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Team India commands the largest fan base globally, enjoying the truly unrivaled," he said.
"The role demands a high level of professionalism as one gets to nurture some of the best cricketers in the world and an assembly line of talented cricketers to follow. Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour, and the BCCI will pick the right candidate capable of propelling Indian cricket forward," Shah added.
The BCCI has advertised the position with a deadline for applications set for May 28. Speculation is rife about several Indian candidates, with Gautam Gambhir being prominently mentioned.
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