Bangalore, September 28: Two important decisions that would be indicators of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) functioning are expected to be taken at the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the BCCI in Chennai over the next two days.Raj Singh Dungarpur, chairman of the National Cricket Academy, shocked some Working Committee members when he stated that the NCA would shortly be shifted from Bangalore to Chennai. Brijesh Patel, one of the NCA administrators, was astonished as the others at the Working Committee meeting. Here it must be pointed out that the NCA originally had a three-man committee: Dungarpur, Sunil Gavaskar and Patel. Later Polly Umrigar and S Venkatraghavan were added.When KSCA president and BCCI vice-president KM Ramprasad demanded an explanation from Dungarpur about the shifting of the NCA, the latter claimed that the TN government had agreed to grant 50 acres of land some 150 kms outside Chennai. He also added that the trainees could now swim in the sea like the Australians did!Suddenly a number of associations stated that they too could provide acres of land if the NCA was based in their state. KSCA itself was willing to get hundreds of acres of land in Raichur or Shimoga or Gulbarga or even Mangalore if that was the criterion.A decision on this issue will now be taken at the AGM. Bangalore was chosen for its unmatched weather that permitted cricket throughout the year at all times of the day. The logic behind the appointment of Hanumant Singh and Vasu Paranjpe as coaches must also be gone into. Hanumant Singh, a former Test cricketer now in his sixties, may have the credentials. He, like Paranjpe who too is in his sixties, may be a willing and keen learner. But does it serve the Board's purpose to invest in the duo's learning when it must be apparent to all that they can only be short-term coaches at best.Certainly, like the move to shift the NCA, even the appointment of coaches should be well thought out and planned. So far they seem to be going on the whims of individuals.The second key decision the Board is likely to take is the appointment of a cricket coach. Anshuman Gaekwad's re-entry is a debatable point. He was discarded as coach last season because the Board thought he was inadequate. Now with Kapil Dev falling out of favour they have rushed back to Gaekwad. Is it a correction of a mistake?Perhaps the Board would care to explain its `system'.Geoff Marsh Emerges Strong ContenderCHENNAI: Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh seems to be the only candidate in the race to take over as Indian cricket team's coach from November, according to the BCCI sources here on Thursday. Board President AC Muthiah, who is expected to retain his post at the Board's AGM scheduled here on Friday, ``has been authorised to decide on the matter. Australian Marsh is tipped to be the lone candidate,'' sources said. Stand-in coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who replaced Kapil Dev following the latter's stepping down from his post earlier this month, is to function in his present capacity till the end of October. Gaekwad has accompanied the team to Kenya for the ICC Knock-out Cup to be held in Nairobi from October 3 to 15 and will also be the team's coach for the subsequent Sharjah triangular featuring India, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.(PTI)
