Ravi Shastri's contract unlikely to be renewed as BCCI opens application process for position of Team India coach

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opened up the application process to select the head coach of the Indian cricket team. The deadline for applications is set for June 10. This decision was taken at the Special General Meeting chaired by new president Anurag Thakur.

The latest development could mean the end of the road for Ravi Shastri along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, bowling coach B Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar — who were part of the team's support staff since the One Day International (ODI) series in 2014. In fact, the contracts of the staff had expired after the ICC T20 World Cup in March.

"We will advertise for the post of the coach, and by June 10 anyone who is willing to take up post of coach, they can apply to the BCCI. The candidate will be finalized after that. 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" said Thakur as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Thakur was full of praise for former team director Ravi Shastri and his staff, saying they had done a good job in the past and the team had performed well under their leadership. The 41-year-old has not ruled out their re-appointments, revealing that they are welcome to apply for the job.

"Of course, yes. It is open for everyone whether it is the current support staff, or from outside India or within India, anyone who is keen to be a coach with Indian team or take other responsibilities — bowling, batting, fielding coach or the head coach — all these positions would be available."

India is next scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series in June. It is likely that interim coaching arrangements will be made with the aim of appointing new long-term coaches by the time Virat Kohli and his team travel to the Caribbean for a four-match test series in July.