By IANS
New Delhi : Stung by Graham Ford's decision to decline the offer to coach Team India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Tuesday appointed former captain Chandu Borde as the team manager for the upcoming tours to Ireland and England and also start afresh the search for a new coach.
The announcement by the BCCI comes a day after Ford decided to stay with his present employers Kent County Cricket Club, leaving the BCCI in an embarrassing situation.
Borde's name was proposed by BCCI president Sharad Pawar and it was accepted unanimously by the working committee that met here.
"We heard the full report from (former captains) Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri on what transpired on Graham Ford's decision to decline the job. The BCCI has taken stock of the situation and Chandu Borde appointed cricket manager for the Ireland and England series," said BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan after the working committee meeting.
"Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad will be the fielding and bowling coach respectively and have been given a one-year contract."
The Indian cricket board, however, said that there was nothing to be embarrassed about the decision, as it was just a change of decision by an individual.
"We asked Ford whether it was a question of 'if and when'. He said it was only a matter of 'when' giving an indication that he was interested in the job. So it is a clear case that Ford later changed his mind," said Srinivasan.
Srinivasan also rubbished speculations that Ford did not take up the BCCI's offer because he was not satisfied with its terms.
"It was not the duration or the financial part of the contract as speculated," he said.
Srinivasan also added that the seven-member panel headed by BCCI president Sharad Pawar, who initially offered the job to Ford, will meet later to start the search for a new coach.
On the issue of players' contracts, Srinivasan said that the old contract will remain and a decision will be taken after October.
"The board decided that they would continue with the present contracts till October. And after that the BCCI will sit down with the players to sort out a new contract," said Srinivasan.