Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to decide India's next coach

The BCCI's cricket advisory committee comprising of the legendary Indian trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman will be deciding the India cricket team's next coach. Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale will act as the chief co-ordinator of the committee which is expected to forward the name of their selection to the board by June 22.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Ajay Shirke, the honorable secretary of the BCCI who had been entrusted with the job of scrutinizing the application of the 57 candidates who applied for the coveted job, had mentioned that the list had been pruned down to 21 based on their qualifications. The advisory committee will, however, have access to the files of all the candidates should they desire so.

"That will be decided by the adjudicators if a lack of one experience is ok and if it can be compensated in any other way," Shirke said, as reported by India Today. “Shortlisting starts from those who meet the criteria and those who don't and from there on the process goes further. BCCI will merely choose and recommend based on the merits of the coach," he added, clarifying the BCCI’s stand on the issue.

According to BCCI’s official website, the advisory committee will be conducting an initial screening process before conducting face to face interviews as well as seeking video presentations from shortlisted candidates, wherein they will be expected to showcase their ideas and ambitions for what is one of the most coveted and demanding jobs in world cricket.

Tendulkar, who is presently out of the country, has conveyed that he will be back in time before the proceedings start at the Mumbai office of the BCCI, where he will join his former teammates in making the crucial call. The trio will have a tough choice on their hands with a number of former teammates included in the mix.

The prominent names include Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, Venkatesh Prasad, Sandeep Patil among others while the likes of Stephen Fleming and Heath Streak have also forwarded their intentions of managing the Men in Blue. The applications will be scrutinized on the basis on the nine stipulations laid out by the BCCI as qualifications for the post, but the advisory committee will have the freedom to select the most suitable candidate based on the potential as well.

The name will be forwarded to Shirke’s office who in turn will forward the matter to BCCI President Anurag Thakur to make the final call.