By IANS
New Delhi/Bangalore : South African Graham Ford stunned the Indian cricket board Monday as he rejected its offer for appointment as coach of the Indian team. A board committee will meet in New Delhi Tuesday to discuss options ahead.
Ford, a former South African coach, declined the offer made to him Saturday and decided to continue with his present employer, Kent County Cricket Club.
"I am very grateful to the (Kent) club for allowing me to go to India to find out more about the job of coaching the Indian team. I have had a chance to reflect on the offer made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and their urgency to fill the vacant position," said Ford on the club's website.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent. This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Ford had said no to the offer.
"He has said that he would not join us now. He has withdrawn his candidature," BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan told a press conference in Bangalore, adding that the issue will be discussed in the board's working committee in New Delhi Tuesday.
"He (Ford) said in the communication that he cannot take up the job at such a short notice. It is for the working committee to take an appropriate view now," he added.
Srinivasan said that the BCCI received the communication from Ford when a meeting with the senior players was on to discuss their contracts.
Ford's decision makes the board desperate in its search for a coach, a post vacant since former Australia captain Greg Chappell resigned in April after India was ousted from the World Cup in the preliminary stage.
Former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore, whose contract with Bangladesh came to an end last month, was once seen as a top contender, before a selection panel met in Bangalore June 4 and invited Ford and former England spinner John Emburey for presentations in Chennai Saturday.
At the end of the presentations, the board had offered a one-year contract to Ford.
Meanwhile, Ford's move to stay at Canterbury brought good news for Kent fans.
"This is really great news for Kent cricket. We are delighted Graham has decided to stay with us. I would like to say how much we appreciate the way Graham has handled the last few days," said Graham Johnson, Kent's chairman of cricket.
"He has made a significant contribution to our playing performance during his time with us, as well as the system to produce local cricket talent in Kent. Part of that input has been the development of a support mechanism that has meant that the playing side was able to operate effectively whilst Graham was away and great credit goes to them," he said.
Johnson also added that Ford's decision would thrill everybody associated with the club.
"It also says much about the future vision we have for Kent, the way we conduct our business and how we all play a part in the delivery of that vision, not least through what we do on the field," he said.