Kaif to replace Dravid

“I think so,” was Lele’s answer to a query whether the injury meant that Dravid, one of the batting mainstays for India, will not be fit in time for the one-off Test in Dhaka against Bangladesh scheduled from November 10-14.The Test would be Bangladesh’s inaugural one after being accorded full member status at the last AGM of the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, Anshuman Gaekwad would be persuaded to continue as the Indian team’s coach till all formalities regarding the appointment of the new foreign coach is completed, Lele said.

“Gaekwad has already been appointed the coach till the Test match in Dhaka and will be persuaded to continue till the new coach is able to take over,” the Board secretary said. Lele angrily refuted reports from Sharjah that the new reign coach will be able to take over only in February prior to the Aussies’ scheduled tour to India. “A lot of formalities have to be completed which include clearance from the authorities for paying the new coach in foreign exchange. “I do not know how much time these will take. It’s all rubbish to say he can take over in February only. We may get the clearance in a week or a month or it may take longer,” Lele fumed.

Australians Geoff Marsh and Greg Chappell and New Zealander John Wright are in the running for the high-profile job. The BCCI officials interviewed Chappell and Wright in Chennai on Monday and also announced that the third candidate Marsh will be interviewed at a later date. The matter wll then be referred to the Board’s high-powered working and finance committees before the final choice is made.