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NEW DELHI: After managing to get Rahul Dravid on board to become the head coach of the men’s team, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has all but sealed a deal with another former India batter VVS Laxman for the post of head of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The post was vacated by Dravid once he took up the Team India job.
TOI has learnt that Laxman is set to assume charge after the India ‘A’ team’s tour of South Africa later this month. Former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak will be in charge of the ‘A’ team for the tour. If all goes to plan, Laxman will be in charge of the NCA, India ‘A’ and U-19 teams.
“Laxman has agreed in principle. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah were very keen to have another stalwart to take forward Dravid’s project at NCA. Dravid and Laxman share a great understanding and the board wants synergy between Team India and NCA. The modalities of his terms of appointment are still being worked out. But he has already been sharing his ideas on NCA,” a top BCCI official told TOI.
Like Dravid’s appointment, the board has to invite applications for the post and conduct interviews as per the constitution. The board will also have to put out an advertisement for hiring a bowling coach at NCA after Paras Mhambrey was elevated as the bowling coach of the men’s team. BCCI will have to hasten the process, given the U-19 World Cup is just about two months away.
According to sources, Laxman had turned down the offer when BCCI first floated the idea to him two months ago. Laxman was the board’s backup option for the job of Team India’s head coach. He was ready to take up the Team India job if Dravid had declined. But he was not keen to take the job at NCA.
“Laxman has been reluctant to move to Bengaluru as he was unsure of moving base from Hyderabad where his family is settled. However, he had multiple discussions with Ganguly and Shah after the IPL finished on October 15. His concerns were addressed. He will now discuss the offer with Sunrisers Hyderabad where he has been working as a mentor. The negotiations around his salary and other compensation will have to be completed now,” the official said.
TOI has learnt that Laxman is set to assume charge after the India ‘A’ team’s tour of South Africa later this month. Former Saurashtra batter Sitanshu Kotak will be in charge of the ‘A’ team for the tour. If all goes to plan, Laxman will be in charge of the NCA, India ‘A’ and U-19 teams.
“Laxman has agreed in principle. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah were very keen to have another stalwart to take forward Dravid’s project at NCA. Dravid and Laxman share a great understanding and the board wants synergy between Team India and NCA. The modalities of his terms of appointment are still being worked out. But he has already been sharing his ideas on NCA,” a top BCCI official told TOI.
Like Dravid’s appointment, the board has to invite applications for the post and conduct interviews as per the constitution. The board will also have to put out an advertisement for hiring a bowling coach at NCA after Paras Mhambrey was elevated as the bowling coach of the men’s team. BCCI will have to hasten the process, given the U-19 World Cup is just about two months away.
According to sources, Laxman had turned down the offer when BCCI first floated the idea to him two months ago. Laxman was the board’s backup option for the job of Team India’s head coach. He was ready to take up the Team India job if Dravid had declined. But he was not keen to take the job at NCA.
“Laxman has been reluctant to move to Bengaluru as he was unsure of moving base from Hyderabad where his family is settled. However, he had multiple discussions with Ganguly and Shah after the IPL finished on October 15. His concerns were addressed. He will now discuss the offer with Sunrisers Hyderabad where he has been working as a mentor. The negotiations around his salary and other compensation will have to be completed now,” the official said.
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