Anil Kumble's job as coach up in air

New Delhi: Speculation over Anil Kumble’s future as India head coach mounted with the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday inviting applications for the job, particularly with the team having just landed in England for the Champions Trophy.

Kumble’s present contract, inked in June last year, ends on June 20 following the ICC tournament that gets under way from June 1 in England.

In a terse statement, acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said, “The Board of Control for Cricket in India would like to call upon interested candidates to apply for the position of ‘Head Coach’ for Indian cricket team (men)…

“Present Head Coach, Mr Anil Kumble will be a direct entry for the process.

“To ensure a fair and completely transparent process, a nominee of the Committee of Administrators will oversee the entire process along with the Cricket Advisory Committee.

“The BCCI’s three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, Mr. Sourav Ganguly and Mr. V.V.S. Laxman will conduct interviews and seek presentations to select the best possible candidate to guide the team and take Indian cricket forward.”

Titelists India open their Champions Trophy campaign against Pakistan on June 4.

Under Kumble, India won all their Test series at home, including victories over Australia and England, besides an away series in the West Indies.

Speculation that the former India captain and India’s most successful international bowler had rubbed powerful sections of the board the wrong way emerged after his talks along with skipper Virat Kohli, for a better pay package to top players, besides himself.

According to PTI however, Chaudhary said the board was happy with Kumble’s performance and was only following due process.