India coach Gary Kirsten's hectic schedule over the next one year will not only involve the maddening international cricket calendar. The South African has more important, personal issues to deal with as Team India enter one of their busiest seasons ever. Back in South Africa, Kirsten's mother has been diagnosed with lung cancer and the India coach is naturally keen to spend time with her during her illness. Highly placed sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told The Indian Express on Thursday that Kirsten had written to them asking for permission to fly to South Africa as and when he can be with his mother.She will undergo chemotherapy on a regular basis and, while he has told the board that he will keep his commitment with the Indian team, Kirsten has requested that they let him be with his mother whenever possible. “He has informed us that his mother is in a serious condition and that the next 12 to 18 months are going to be really tough,” a board official said.The board has agreed to Kirsten’s request. They have only asked that he “keeps informing the board in advance about his leave.” Kirsten will head to South Africa straight from Karachi after the Asia Cup is over and will arrive in India shortly before the team leaves for Sri Lanka. Keeping that in mind, he is already in discussions with Test captain Anil Kumble about the composition of the Test team, and has told the board that he is willing to coordinate with the selectors via conference call when the selection meeting takes place. Apart from the Test series in Sri Lanka, India will host Australia and England this year. There’s also the Champions Trophy in Pakistan before that. The next year’s schedule is also choc-a-block and the only real break for Kirsten will be during the 2008 Indian Premier League.
