BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Denies Reports Of Offers To Ex-Australian Players For Team India Head Coach Role

Team India Head Coach: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah refutes reports, stating no offers were made to former Australian players for the India head coach role.

Team India Head Coach: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Denies Reports Of Offers To Ex-Australian Players For Team India Head Coach Role ( Image Source :Getty )

Team India Head Coach: Jay Shah, secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has emphatically declared on Friday that he or India’s apex cricket body did not approach any former Australian cricketer with an offer to become the next head coach of India. This statement follows former Australian batter Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting’s revelation that they declined the India's head coach position offers.

As per a report by PTI, he emphasised that neither he nor the board ‘approached’ any former Australian player for the role of India’s national cricket team’s head coach. The statement dismisses circulating media reports as completely inaccurate.

“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah mentioned in a statement as quoted by PTI.

READ | Ricky Ponting Reveals Why He Rejected BCCI's Offer To Be India Head Coach

BCCI Focused On 'Finding The Right Coach' For Team India

Jay Shah emphasised the 'thorough' process of finding the right coach for the national team, focusing on individuals with a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and who have risen through the ranks. 

“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It’s crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level.”

'The Role Demands A High Level Of Professionalism' Says Jay Shah

Jay Shah also expressed that the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team is deemed one of the most prestigious roles in international cricket, given Team India's massive global fan base and unparalleled support. He stated that the BCCI is committed to selecting the right candidate capable of advancing Indian cricket and meeting the aspirations of billions of fans.

“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 support that is truly unrivalled. Our rich history, passion for the game make this one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. 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,” he mentioned.

Ricky Ponting & Justin Langer's Statement On Team India Head Coach Psotion Offers

Recently, former Australia teammates Ricky Ponting and Justin langer expressed that they had turned down the offers of India's head coach role. 

"I've seen a lot of reports about it. Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it. I'd love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can't be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well. Also, a national head coach is a ten- or 11-month-of-the-year job, and as much as I'd like to do it, it just doesn't fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing," Ponting told the ICC Review.

Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer speaking on BBC's 'Stumped' podcast said, "You never say never. And the pressure of doing it in India. I was talking to KL Rahul, and he said, 'You know, if you think there's pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand. (That's) coaching India. That was a good bit of advice, I guess. It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment," Langer said further.