BCCI zeros in on Gary Kirsten for coach of Indian team

New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) The BCCI has zeroed in on South African Gary Kirsten to be the new coach of the Indian cricket team.

''Kirsten was interviewed by members of the board's special coach committee yesterday,'' secretary Niranjan Shah said, adding that a decision is expected within a week.

Shah's statement has made it clear that that Team India will have a coach before it leaves for the tour of Australia next month.

The South African could fill the high-profile post which has been lying vacant ever since Greg Chappell resigned following India's debacle in the World Cup in March.

The team has had short term managers since the tour of Bangladesh in May and at present Lal Chand Rajput is doing that job.

The former proteas batsman Gary Kirsten, 40, emerged the favourite for the high-profile job after being interviewd by the coach Selection Committee -- comprising former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkataraghavan, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, Treasurer N Srinivasan and Joint Secretary M. P.

Pandove.

Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals for South Africa in an 11-year career that ended in 2004.

The interview proceedings were kept a closely guarded secret as BCCI, having burnt its fingers earlier when it named Graham Ford the coach in June but he subsequently refused to take up the offer leaving the board officials red-faced.

The board then advertised the post and according to Shah the committee to select the coach had received more than 20 applications for the job.

UNI