Kolkata: A senior BCCI official made it clear that former Indian leg-spinner and the current coach of the Indian team Anil Kumble, might not be offered a new contract even if India end their Champions Trophy campaign on a high note.
The BCCI official said that Kumble’s attitude and recent actions hasn’t quite impressed the Indian cricketing body and this would have an impact on his contract renewal.
“Kumble’s chances of getting an extension even if India go on to successfully defend the Champions Trophy remains 50-50. Don’t think it will alone have a bearing on the board’s decision on the chief coach. He has time and again broken the protocol and his attitude hasn’t impressed the BCCI.”
Under Kumble’s guidance, the Indian team achieved a lot of success and even became the number one ranked side in Test cricket. But the BCCI official, according to reports from Cricketnext, believed that coach alone did not have any major contribution in the success.
“So, are you trying to tell me that the coach alone is responsible for a team doing well? If that is the case, then why look for talented players? We can just look for talented coaches. A coach is just as good as the team. Having said that, we aren’t trying to discount a coach’s role. All we wish to convey is that Kohli and the boys have an important role to play if India are to win the tournament” replied the official angrily when a reporter asked him about Kumble’s role in India’s recent Test success.
The main reason for the board being disappointed with Kumble is the fact that the former Indian skipper has repeatedly tried to contact the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administators to look into the daily functioning of the BCCI.
Also, Kumble had approached the Vinod Rai led body over the fact that the BCCI was delaying the announcement of the squad for the upcoming mega-event.
“It is fine to speak to the COA on and off. But you cannot keep trying to bypass the BCCI and contact them for things which are under the board’s domain” said the official.
The Indian board would also look forward to renewing the contracts of batting coach Sanjay Bhangar and fielding coach R Sridhar after a discussion following the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.
“The support staff of the Indian team, which includes chief coach Anil Kumble along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar and fielding coach R Sridhar will be in charge of the team till the Champions Trophy. The contracts will be discussed and reviewed after the mega event in England. Any decision on whether they stay or not will be taken only after the tournament,” said BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhury.
(With inputs from www.crictracker.com)