The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to have a busy week ahead, considering they have three important matters at hand for which decisions have to be made. While the India cricket team is busy in their hunt for the next ICC trophy, the board has several tall tasks at hand that will decide the shape of the team in the future. A string of changes are expected once the T20 World Cup is done and it begins with the crucial decisions that the BCCI will make in this week.
New India head coach & Dravid’s successor
The most important task at hand for the BCCI is the appointment of the next head coach of the side. Former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and VW Raman have already finished with their interviews with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and the ball is now in the BCCI’s court as the final call will be taken by the board. Both Gambhir and Raman appeared virtually for their interviews and put forth their ideas and propositions. The decision is expected to be made by the end of this week.
The urgent need to finalize the new coach also stems from the fact that Rahul Dravid’s tenure will come to an end with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup.
Replacing North Zone selector
Former pacer Salil Ankola’s tenure as the North Zone selector will also come to an end. So, the BCCI are tasked with the responsibility of finding his replacement in the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. As per reports, Mithun Manhas and Krishan Mohan Sharma are frontrunners for the post. Ankola, meanwhile, will move on to the junior selection committee that currently lacks a cricketer who has represented India.
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Squad for India’s next series against ZIM
Apart from deciding on the new head coach and the selector, the selection committee and the BCCI will also have to finalize the squad for the IND vs ZIM series. Several youngsters are expected to be included in the squad that is most likely to see the stars playing in the T20 World Cup to sit out. Stars like Mayank Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy and Riyan Parag are expected to be rewarded for their stellar performances in the IPL with a place in India’s squad. Further, Shreyas Iyer is expected to make his return to the national side while Sanju Samson is likely to be given a chance.
“The squad is supposed to be announced by next week. But I’m not sure when as Ajit (Agarkar) could discuss a few names with the new coach. If the new coach selection is delayed, they will announce the squad any time next week,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.