Mumbai: A support staff, on a temporary basis, for the Indian squad's tour of Zimbabwe, to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be identified soon, said BCCI Honorary Secretary Ajay Shirke on Monday.
"The support staff would be decided shortly," said Shirke after announcing the squads for next month's tour to Zimbabwe for the limited overs rubber and the West Indies in July-August for a four-Test series.
There's no designated support staff, including a head coach, for the team at the conclusion of India's campaign in the March-April World T20 Championship when the tenure of director Ravi Shastri and his assistants ended.
The BCCI has decided to issue an advertisement to fill up the post of head coach and his assistants, but the process of identifying them will not be complete before the squad departs for Zimbabwe to play three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals from June 11 to 19.
"It (the coach's position) is open for everyone — outside India, within India — anyone who is willing to take up any responsibility in all these positions -- batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach, head coach — will be available," Anurag Thakur, BCCI's newly-elected president said at a media conference after the Special General Meeting on Sunday.
"We will advertise for the post of coach today and by June 10 anyone can apply and shortlisting will be done after that," Thakur had said at the BCCI headquarters.
"We are keeping it open, we want people to come. They can come forward, apply and then we can look at the proposals, who are the applicants and who are best for BCCI," he added.
Cricket Association of Bengal President and former India captain Sourav Ganguly had said that it may be two months before a new coaching staff could be identified.
"It will happen in the next couple of months. I am not too sure if it happens before the Zimbabwe tour because it is not too far away," said Ganguly, who is also a member of the BCCI's advisory panel along with Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
