Thursday, December 24, 2015 – Mumbai—Ravi Shastri, the Director (coaching) was not present during the selection of team for the tour of Australia next month, it is learnt here.
There has been a world wide practice where the coach of the national team is asked to remain present during the selection committee meeting though he may not have the voting right.
The national selectors were happy to seek inputs from Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher during their respective tenures as coach of the Indian team.
The BCCI has not named Fletcher’s successor yet but named Ravi Shastri to look after the progress of the team.
“I am “not involved” in the selection of the India team”, Ravi Shastri, speaking exclusively over his mobile, said. When asked whether he is happy with the selection of the Indian team, Shastri said, “I don’t want to comment on team selection. I don’t think on these lines. Whatever teams are given to me, I coach the boys”.
The last selection committee meeting had captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s presence. No vice captain has been named.
The BCCI has named two squads comprising of 15 players each (few common in both squads) for the five IDIs’ and three Twnety20s to be played in January 2016.
The BCCI is scheduled to send two national selectors (Saba Karim and Vikram Rathour) for the 18-day tour of Australia, it is also learnt here.