National coaches can’t have IPL stints anymore: CoA

In a bid to end the conflict of interest issue raised by historian and ex-member of the CoA Ramachandra Guha, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) decided that all National Coaches will have two years contract in which they can’t associate themselves with an IPL side.

The meeting was held in New Delhi and was also joined by acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary and CEO Rahul Johri via video conference from London. Earlier, national coaches used to be given a 2-month window to participate in the IPL in the capacity of a mentor or a coach. Now, this practice has been stopped by the CoA.

“Now all contracts will be for two years,” CoA chairman Vinod Rai told The Indian Express. Another member of the CoA mentioned that the decision was taken in accordance with the Lodha committee recommendations.

“Any new contract that the BCCI enters into will have to comply with the Lodha reforms. It can’t be in conflict. And the Lodha Committee recommendation clearly says that the national contracts should be of (at least) 12 months. So 10 months for the national team and two months with the IPL can no longer work,” he said.

Conflict of interest guidelines to be out soon

The Committee will frame the conflict of interest guidelines very soon, a plea by former India and current India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid. The legend can no longer be a National coach and a mentor of an IPL franchise. The CoA also mentioned that the selection of the U-19 coach will be on the same lines as of the senior national coach. “How can it be for one and not for the other,” asked the CoA member.

The CoA was also informed about the progress in the ongoing hunt for a new coach of the Indian Team. “The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is continuing its discussion with the captain and coach to figure out the nature of problems and whether that can be resolved etc. But in that context, if they are not able to complete the process before the West Indies tour (first ODI is on June 23), then they might have to request Kumble to continue (for the tour). They (CAC) are supposed to have more rounds of conversation with the captain and coach,” said the CoA member.

The speculated ongoing rift between Kohli and Kumble has prevented the latter’s contract extension. Since the BCCI has now invited applications for the post, Kumble will have to re-sit for the interviews too even if the rift between the captain and the coach has been resolved. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that consists of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will conduct the interviews post the West Indies series.

Professional Team Manager soon

Earlier, Kohli and Kumble had requested the CoA to appoint a professional team manager, who has relative experience in a management role. It was announced at this meeting that a professional team manager will be appointed through a complete process after the West Indies tour.