Shastri, Whatmore begin NCA recruitment processes

Former India great GR Viswanath, current Rajasthan coach KP Bhaskar and India’s assistant coach Lalchand Rajput—stalwarts in international and domestic arenas— have been shortlisted for the role of batting consultants. The academy also has former Mumbai batsman Ashok Mankad on its wishlist—a fourth batting consultant—to substitute when Rajput’s hectic schedule with the national team coincides.

Meanwhile, the academy is also in a serious talk with chief coach at the MRF Pace Academy, TA Sekar, and could induct him as a bowling consultant. For long, the pace academy — a well-oiled training centre that has churned out fast bowlers for years—has operated autonomously, with rumours of BCCI’s association with it.

“The MRF Academy has vast resources and has been there for years. If the NCA ties up with the MRF, then it will be great for Indian cricket. It should be known in due course whether it can happen. The good thing is that we have two level-headed people in Whatmore and Shastri vying for it,” said a senior board official.

Once these coaches are appointed, they will be responsible for further appointing Level Three coaches for different age-groups at the academy, scheduled to go operational full-time by April next.

Whatmore has indicated to the board that he wishes to put in place a fullfledged team as soon as the Ranji Trophy season gets over (January), given that he is expected to join the India Under-19 team in its preparations for the Malaysia World Cup next year.

The NCA has also shortlisted a few names for positions in the support-staff unit, which comprises a physio, trainer and a bio-mechanist.

Paul Chapman, the physical trainer who worked with Whatmore during the latter’s stint in Bangladesh as national coach, has already signed on the dotted line for a three-year contract while Paul Close, the physiotherapist who worked with the Australian in Dhaka is expected to do so very soon.

The NCA is also roping in renowned bio-mechanist and former Australia and England women’s team coach John Harmer.

The 65-year-old, also the author of numerous books on bio-mechanics and bowling techniques, had recently said no to an offer from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to replace Whatmore.

“But it is still too early to say whether Harmer is coming for sure,” said an NCA official.