Board names Shastri for NCA job, but without his final nod

Former India skipper Ravi Shastri has been appointed as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore — or has he?

Former India skipper Ravi Shastri has been appointed as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore — or has he? Hours after the BCCI formally announced Shastri’s name for the job, it turned out that the appointment would be confirmed only over the weekend.

In a “miscommunication” echoing the confusion over the appointment of Graham Ford as coach early this year only for the South African to back out later, it’s learnt that the BCCI is yet to get the final word from Shastri, who has asked for “one or two days” to take a decision.

In fact, Shastri, who landed in Bangalore this evening before the first ODI between India and Australia tomorrow, is understood to be “surprised” at the way BCCI went ahead and announced his name as NCA head.

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Shastri did not come on record but a source close to him said, “He is yet to decide. He has a contract on with ESPN-Star and he is not sure how much time he would be able to devote to the NCA job. He had got in touch with Board officials who told him that he wouldn’t have to take up the post of chairman on a full-time basis. He can join in an advisory capacity.”

Talking to The Indian Express, BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Prof Ratnakar Shetty said that “Shastri has been sounded out by the Board and he will need time before he can come up with his decision. There seems to be some miscommunication on this front.”

Later, BCCI treasurer, N Srinivasan, who had announced Shastri’s appointment, told The Indian Express: “The NCA chairman’s post is not a full-time job. There is a director (former India cricketer Shivlal Yadav). In the event of Shastri not accepting the post, we will go back to the president and the Board will look into it. While Shastri has agreed in principle, he has asked for one or two days’ time to look at his other commitments.”

If Shastri does agree, he will take over the academy reins from BCCI’s Maharashtra heavyweight Ajay Shirke who had stepped in as an interim replacement for Kapil Dev, after the legendary all-rounder signed up with the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

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The BCCI had been keen to get a high-profile name for the NCA job, considering that the two previous chairmen had been former captains — Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. And, according to a top BCCI official, president Sharad Pawar had personally finalised Shastri’s name, expressing confidence that the former all-rounder would take up the job.

Pawar, it is learnt, was impressed by the manner in which Shastri managed the team in Bangladesh in May as interim manager after Greg Chappell’s exit as coach following the World Cup disaster. Shastri is also involved with the BCCI committee that’s hunting for the next India coach.

As per BCCI norms, the NCA chairman needs to be devoted full-time to the job. But that would be virtually impossible for Shastri, considering his commitments as part of ESPN-Star’s high-profile commentary team.