A round-up of all the Ranji Trophy Group C matches on October 18, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Shahbaz Nadeem collected 7 for 64•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jharkhand’s left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem finished with career-best figures of 7 for 64, helping his team open their Ranji account with a 133-run victory against Kerala in Malappuram. Kerala, who came into the final day still needing 246 runs for a win, were dealt an early blow when Rohan Prem was trapped lbw off the fourth ball of the day. Akshay Kodoth (72) and Sachin Baby led a min-recovery, stringing together a 52-run partnership, but Baby’s wicket sparked a collapse that led to Kerala losing their last eight wickets for just 56 runs. Nadeem ran through the lower middle order on his way to collecting 7 for 64, as Kerala were bowled out for 183 inside 64 overs. 707 for 8 declared (Bist 220*, Bains 161, Dhawan 114) drew with Hyderabad 434 (Agarwal 118, Vihari 101, More 4-84) and 2 for 0
ScorecardRobin Bist’s unbeaten 220 and Rishi Dhawan’s 114 helped Himachal Pradesh amass a huge first-innings total of 707 for 8, as they took away three points from their drawn game against Hyderabad.HP resumed from an overnight score of 402 for 5 and added 305 runs in the 72 overs that they batted on the day, as Bist and Dhawan shared a 175-run partnership. Hyderabad’s captain Hanuma Vihari used as many as 10 bowlers in search of breakthroughs, three of whom conceded well over 100 runs. With HP batting out most of the day and only a few overs left, the two captains shook hands after the visitors batted for 13 overs, making just two runs in that period. For his unbeaten double-ton that featured 23 fours and one six, HP’s Bist was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Virat Kohli’s India lead against South Africa, but appreciation of his players’ skills has been overshadowed by talk of the Mohali conditions in which they won; Kohli is not unduly bothered by this

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Bangalore13-Nov-20153:19

‘No change in mindset’ – Kohli

Virat Kohli has won his last three Test matches as India’s captain, and his team leads an important series against South Africa, but appreciation of his players’ skills has been overshadowed to a certain extent by talk of the conditions that helped them achieve their latest win in Mohali. Kohli, though, is not unduly bothered by the lack of praise coming his team’s way.”It’s only disappointing if you are looking to take what is written or said to heart, or think about it too much,” he said, on the eve of the second Test in Bangalore. “We focus on the process and don’t really think about what’s being written or what’s being said.”The fact of the matter is we won a Test match and that’s what we feel good about as a team. We are not worried about any external factors or what’s being discussed about things that are not in our control. If someone chooses to say or write about something which they feel is a topic of interest, that’s their choice. It’s up to us if we take it to heart or sit down and feel disappointed. We are not at all disappointed. We won a game of cricket. We are very happy about it.”One of the overlooked factors in India’s Mohali win, according to Kohli, was their seam attack. Though Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron only picked up a wicket between them, in a total of 20 overs across two innings, Kohli felt they still contributed by keeping the runs in check – they only conceded 40 runs in those 20 overs.”If those 20 overs go for 100 runs then you are not in a position to win a Test match,” Kohli said. “So they played their role perfectly. It is important for the three guys bowling the most of the overs to have two guys after them who can also maintain the same momentum and control the run rate as well, which is very important in Test matches.”Either Umesh or Aaron will have to make way in Bangalore for Ishant Sharma, who returns to the side after serving a one-match ban. Kohli looked forward to the return of senior pace bowler, whose 13 wickets at 23.23 were crucial to India’s success in Sri Lanka.”With Ishant coming in, he brings in a lot of experience,” Kohli said. “He’s bowled well in subcontinent conditions, knows how to reverse-swing the ball, can lead the pace attack. The combination can or will change according to the conditions. So I would rather have a guy who will give me control in an important time in the game rather than someone who will just get the overs out of way. That combination has worked for us.”We are just trying to figure out, according to the pitch and conditions, who will be doing more of the bowling and what stage in the game. I’m very delighted that Ishant is back. The way he is bowling and the way he bowled in Sri Lanka brings a lot to the table. It is not just about the spinners. We have quality seamers as well. We saw that in Mohali as well. For those two [Umesh and Aaron] to rush the batsmen on that sort of a wicket, takes a lot of heart, takes a lot of effort. So I was really happy to see that personally.”Also critical to the Mohali win were M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. The second-wicket pair added 63 in the first innings and 86 in the second, utterly vital partnerships in a low-scoring match.”We all are very proud of both of them, the way they batted in the last game,” Kohli said. “We can learn a lot from them, the way they applied themselves. The batsmen didn’t apply themselves as much as we wanted to as a batting group and we are aware of that. But not taking credit away from the way both of them batted. I think they kept us in the game throughout and that is very important I think, two guys standing up in each innings.”Their contributions in both the innings were very crucial to us. I cannot be relaxed as a captain because I have to bat at four, so if I relax I will probably not be in the right kind of mindset to go out and play. But it is a nice feeling to see two professionals building a partnership and it is always a good feeling to know that you have two guys in front who know how to score runs and who know what they are doing out in the middle. It is always a very calming influence in the change room for the guys sitting outside or the bowlers.”I hope they can keep going in the same way, they are doing a wonderful job. Vijay has been so consistent for us, Pujara has made a tremendous comeback, he is willing to play at any position and give the team a kind of flexibility. That is a great attitude to see from both of them, looking to improve each other and stringing in those consistent performances which are indeed making the team win. I am really, really happy about that and I hope they can continue in the same way.”With AB de Villiers set to play his 100th Test, Kohli had words of praise for his Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mate, calling him a “genuine and good person”.”I want to congratulate him on playing his 100th Test,” Kohli said. “As an individual, I know him well. He’s a very genuine and good person. As an opponent he plays hard cricket. As a batsman, he’s among the top four-five batsmen in the world. I cannot say much more than that. His game and the kind of person he is are there for all to see. For me, he’s a very good cricketer and a very good person.”

Dane Paterson, the Cobras quick, has been called up as an emergency replacement for Wayne Parnell in the South Africa A squad that will take on England

Firdose Moonda18-Dec-2015Dane Paterson, the Cobras quick, has been called up as an emergency replacement for Wayne Parnell in the South Africa A squad that will take on England in a three-day warm-up match in Pietermaritzburg starting on Sunday. Parnell has picked up a foot injury and will not be able to take part in the match.The news will come as a blow to Parnell’s long-form ambitions and hopes of an international recall after he was left out of South Africa’s squad to tour India in October and November. Parnell, who also plays for the Cobras, has been opening the bowling in the recently completed 20-over competition and twice opened the batting as well. He was being primed for a comeback after last playing a Test in March 2014 and took part in the South Africa A side’s tour of India.Paterson was also part of that A series and opened the bowling with Parnell. The visit was tough on both of them – they only picked up a wicket apiece – but Paterson has been on the selectors’ radar since he topped the first-class bowling charts last season. In nine matches for the Cobras, Paterson took 42 wickets at 22.54 to take his overall tally to 228 first-class wickets at an average of 21.81.He will bowl alongside Marchant de Lange, who is challenging for a Test spot, and Chris Morris in a strong A side. South Africa have named the two wicketkeeper batsmen competing for a place in the senior side, Dane Vilas and Quinton de Kock, although neither of them is part of the squad for the first two Tests, and also included left-hander Rilee Rossouw, who has recovered from a stress fracture and is the reserve batsman in the Test squad.South Africa have received some good news ahead of the Test series against England, with Dale Steyn passing a fitness test on the groin injury he suffered in India last month.

Melbourne Renegades fast bowler James Pattinson will miss his team’s final league game of the season, against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday, due to soreness in his left shin

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2016Melbourne Renegades fast bowler James Pattinson will miss his team’s final league game of the season, against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday, due to soreness in his left shin.Pattinson, 25, picked up the knock towards the end of the recently-concluded home Tests against West Indies, and has not played any game since the Sydney Test. A new bowling action earned Pattinson 13 wickets in that series, though he had trouble with his front foot in the second Test, in Melbourne.A Cricket Australia release confirmed that the decision to stand Pattinson down for the Strikers game was taken by the board’s medical staff in consultation with the Renegades to ensure that Pattinson recovered fully in time for Australia’s upcoming international assignments; the team has tours of New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the World T20 in India to prepare for immediately after the Australian summer.Pattinson last played a T20 match almost a year ago, during the previous edition of the Big Bash League. He has not played a T20 international since March 2012.The Renegades are currently fourth in the BBL table, and need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

James Neesham has joined the influx of New Zealand internationals playing county cricket this summer after signing for Derbyshire as their second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2016James Neesham has joined the influx of New Zealand internationals playing county cricket this summer after signing for Derbyshire as their second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast.Derbyshire have already recruited Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom, who holds a British passport, for the 2016 season. Both also play for Otago alongside Neesham, who is expected to be available for all of Derbyshire’s Blast games, with the competition starting up in May.”The opportunity to play the entire NatWest T20 Blast this summer with Derbyshire is fantastic and it’ll be great to join up with Hamish and Neil,” Neesham said.”The three of us being able to contribute as a unit is a big attraction and should give us a real head start. Hamish has told me a lot about the club and their ambitions for the NatWest T20 Blast, and I’m looking forward to joining up with the squad later this year.”Derbyshire have finished bottom of the North Group in the Blast for the last two seasons and have only reached the quarter-finals once, in 2005.Neesham, who has been capped 41 times and has experience of playing in the IPL, averages 27.24 with the bat and 24.85 with the ball in T20.Derbyshire’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “Winning the race to sign James means we can add more quality and experience to our Twenty20 side. He’s an exciting talent, with IPL experience, and has the capability to win games with both bat and ball.”To have three internationals, all of whom are team-mates in New Zealand, available for the entire NatWest T20 Blast campaign is massive and will provide us with stability on the field and within the dressing room.”Neesham will come up against a number of his international team-mates during the summer. Tom Latham signed for Kent last week, with Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor among a dozen New Zealanders already brought in by counties for 2016.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is in line to make a return from the injury at the Island of Origin match on February 28 in Wellington

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2016New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is in line to make a return from injury at the Island of Origin T20 match on February 28 in Wellington, which is being seen as a warm-up game before the team’s departure for the World T20 in India. The batsman had suffered a muscle tear in his left side during the T20I series against Pakistan last month. While the injury kept him out of the Pakistan ODIs and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and Tests against Australia, he is in contention for the World T20, which starts from March 8.Apart from Taylor, eight other players of New Zealand’s World T20 squad will also feature in the match. The North Island squad, captained by Taylor, includes allrounder Grant Elliott, fast bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne, batsman Colin Munro, wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi and legspinner Ish Sodhi. The South Island squad, which will be captained by Tom Latham, includes offspinner Nathan McCullum and batsman Henry Nicholls.National selector Gavin Larsen said the match was an opportunity for several players to get into T20 mode before they left for India.”It’s two very strong teams who will both be eager on taking bragging rights,” Larsen said. “It’s also a great chance for a number of players to get back into Twenty20 mode ahead of the tournament in India.”We’ll be watching with interest, as it’s also a chance for a number of fringe players to push their case for higher honours going forward.”North Island: Ross Taylor (capt), Todd Astle, Doug Bracewell, Anton Devcich, Grant Elliott, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Ish Sodhi, George WorkerSouth Island: Tom Latham (capt), Dean Brownlie, Jacob Duffy, Andrew Ellis, Peter Fulton, Matt Henry, Nathan McCullum, Henry Nicholls (wk), Marty Kain, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Neil Wagner

Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill recall their fondest memories of their mentor and pay tribute to the fallen New Zealand hero

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-20163:44

‘Passionate, emotional, genius, inspirational’

Ross Taylor has said that a letter from Martin Crowe late last year inspired him and played a key role in his knock of 290 against Australia in Perth. Taylor spoke of a one-and-a-half-page note as he and Martin Guptill fondly remembered Crowe, their mentor, who died on Thursday after a prolonged battle against cancer.Crowe’s name has often found mention when Taylor and Guptill’s success has been spoken of. “It was the first time in my career that I actually doubted how long I’d be playing this game,” Taylor said. “He (Crowe) wrote a one-and-a-half page letter, one of the most amazing letters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and it was about me and just a little reminder of why you play this game. I’m sure in time I’ll show people the e-mail, but it was pretty special and I must admit, I definitely wouldn’t have got 290 without this e-mail.”But in saying that, he sent a message after I bettered his record of 188 and said that that was the only record he was proud of and I took that off from him. But, he was still in good enough spirits to tell me that his highest Test score, 299, was better than mine. That put me back to earth very quickly. That e-mail may have only been a small thing, but it had a huge influence on the way I batted that day.”Taylor and Guptill shared very close relationships with Crowe, the extent of which was best reflected in the words Crowe chose for the two batsmen, just before World Cup final last year. “To see the two sons I never had, Ross Taylor and Marty Guptill, run out in black, in sync with their close comrades, will be mesmerically satisfying,” Crowe had written. “I will hold back tears all day long.”Guptill had not known Crowe for as long as Taylor did, but Crowe still had a massive influence on his career. “The last two years, it’s been valuable and I won’t forget my time with him,” Guptill said.”He’s very positive, he just wanted to push me to be the best I can be. I’ve got a lot of stuff we’ve worked on together, I’ve got it locked away in my head.”Taylor remembered how it was only on the insistence of Ian Smith that he first approached Crowe. “I was probably a little different to most Kiwi kids,” Taylor said. “My favourite players, growing up, were Sachin Tendulkar and Mark Waugh. I didn’t mind Hogan, I enjoyed watching him in the 1992 World Cup, but I didn’t really model my game on his. But I had just come into the New Zealand team, I was in limbo.”I knew Ian Smith very well, I went to school with his son Jarrod and we were good friends. I was just talking to Smithy one day and said I was enjoying playing cricket, but want to be better, and he said, ‘I think it’s about time you gave Martin Crowe a call.’ It was pretty nerve-wracking, ringing a New Zealand great, but he was pretty open and I flew up and stayed in his house in Auckland.”He’s just a genius. He was a pretty hard taskmaster. That’s what I needed in my career, for someone to kick me up the backside when needed. But at the same time, he understood when to pump your tyres up a little bit. I don’t think I’d be the player I’ve become without the guidance he gave me throughout and I owe a lot of my career to what he passed on to me.”Taylor was especially emotional while talking about the time he first learnt of Crowe’s illness, during New Zealand’s tour of England last year. “When I first found out, he was pretty open about the illness. He sent a message through a couple of days before the Test in Leeds and said, ‘I’m not well and if I do pass away, please do not come back for the funeral.’ His last wish was for me and Gup to bat together. So Kane [Williamson] knicked off and I went out to bat, glove-punched Gup and we both said at the same time, ‘this is for Hogan.’ I’m sure he’ll be looking down and telling me to play straight.”Guptill was packing his bags to leave for Dubai for New Zealand’s preparatory camp ahead of the World T20 when he received news of Crowe’s death. “I was with my wife Laura and she got a notification from New Zealand Herald, saying he had passed away and, straightaway, I just felt very numb. We knew it was coming but didn’t know when. And when it eventually did, it still came as a bit of a shock and one that will take some time to get over.”Ross has known Martin longer than I have. We were both quite emotional getting on that plane. We shared a glass of wine together in memory of Hogan, so that was a nice thing to do while we were in the air.”Calling him a family man, Guptill fondly recalled the time he spent with Crowe outside of cricket, particularly the night before his wedding as well as the day when Crowe, along with his entire family, went to watch the NRL grand final of 2014 with Guptill’s family.Guptill summed up Crowe as one of New Zealand’s finest ever. “When I was a lot younger, in the lounge, watching the Test matches at Eden Park, I used to pad up and pretend to be while Martin was batting on TV, so that’s one thing I’ll take away from his early career. I don’t remember too much of him playing, to be honest. All I remember is him being a seriously good player and probably our finest ever.”Taylor recounted Crowe’s first impression of him as a “dirty slogger” and summed up Crowe as a passionate man who loved and wanted to give back to the game. “I had only just started playing first-class cricket and Leanne (Taylor’s manager) rang him up and said, ‘I’ve got a new player, Ross Taylor, can you go and have a look at him?’ I think I batted at 5 then for CD (Central Districts) and I saw Martin walking around the boundary, like a selector at an age-group tournament. I think I got about 40 off 25 balls on the first morning of a first-class game and Hogan said to Leanne, ‘he’s nothing but a dirty slogger.’ But things have come a long way. Hopefully, I’ve improved from that slogger back at Eden Park No. 2.”He was passionate, emotional, and a genius. He had a kind heart and I think he just wanted to be included and give back to the game of cricket that had been so good to him. He saw what I wanted to do and I just hope I was able to give him a little bit of personal satisfaction out of my career because he did give me a lot.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category

Umar Farooq04-May-2016The PCB has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category. Fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz was moved from category C to D while opener Marina Iqbal has been dropped from B to C.

The contract list

Category A (PKR 1,00,500, USD 960)
Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Asmavia Iqbal
Category B (PKR 85,000, USD 810)
Nida Dar, Anam Amin, Nain Abidi
Category C (PKR 65,000, USD 620)
Sadia Yousuf, Sidra Nawaz, Rabiya Shah, Sidra Ameen, Nahida Khan, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Marina Iqbal, Sania Khan
Category D (PKR 30,000, USD 285)
Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar, Kainat Imtiaz

Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar are the new inclusions in the contract list. Uncapped players Fareeha Mehmood and Maham Tariq, along with fast bowler Sumaiya Siddiqi, who played nine limited-overs games in 2015, were not awarded a contract.Left-arm spinner Anam Amin, who took 33 wickets in 17 limited-overs matches in 2015, has been promoted to category B from C. Sania Khan, who last played for Pakistan in November 2015, has been demoted from from B to C.”These contracts have been given to women cricketers for their outstanding performance and progress they have shown in domestic and international events throughout the year 2015,” the PCB said in a release. “The one-year contract is effective from January 1, 2016, and is divided into four categories (A, B, C and D).”Despite lacking an organised international calendar, Pakistan Women have put in impressive performances at global events. They beat India and Bangladesh in the group stage of the recently-concluded World T20 in India, but failed to make the semi-final after losing to West Indies and England.

Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2016
ScorecardJohann Myburgh played the match-winning hand•Getty Images

Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign.Although Chris Gayle provided one or two fireworks during his 13-ball cameo at the top end of the innings, it was Johann Myburgh and Roelof van der Merwe who led the way as Somerset overhauled Surrey’s 186 for 4 with four balls to spare.Having won the toss, Surrey lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Jason Roy, who was dropped on 10 by Jamie Overton off the bowling of brother Craig, was caught by van der Merwe off Craig Overton for 28.Somerset’s fielding was certainly not up to scratch and both Kumar Sangakkara and Dominic Sibley benefitted before the former well caught by Gayle, at extra cover, off Yasir Arafat for 37 off 19 balls. The Sri Lankan struck seven boundaries in his short stay at the crease and was understandably miffed when Gayle stuck out a hand and held on to a smart catch.In the very next over, Rory Burns departed for a single, caught by Craig Overton at deep midwicket at 96 for 3. At that stage, Surrey needed a partnership of real substance. Thanks to Sibley and Dwayne Bravo they got it.The pair added 69 off 42 balls with Bravo helping himself to 15 before van der Merwe held on to a wonderful catch on the deep midwicket boundary.Sibley continued to lead the way for Surrey and though Somerset bowled well at the death, the 20-year-old bolstered the visitors’ total to 186 for 4 with an unbeaten 74 off 55 balls. The youngster, who hurt his back in trying to hit Jamie Overton out of the ground, struck six fours and three sixes.Somerset’s reply was only eight balls old when captain Jim Allenby top edged a Ravi Rampaul delivery to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, at 10 for 1.Normal order was restored, for the Somerset supporters, off the final three balls of Rampaul’s first over. Gayle, looking to improve on the 49 he scored against Essex at the ground seven days previous, struck all three deliveries for six.
Another six, off Tom Curran, followed before the West Indian star was caught by countryman Bravo on the square leg boundary for 31 at 37 for 2. Bravo was celebrating again three balls later when Peter Trego gloved a short ball to Foakes, for 2, at 39 for 3.With two of the big hitters having departed, it was left to Myburgh and Gregory to pick up the pieces. Myburgh, who batted so well against Gloucestershire in the Royal London Cup last Sunday, struck successive sixes off Tom Curran to help Somerset to 57 for 3 after five overs.Myburgh, who continued to punish anything over-pitched, took his side to 100 in the 10th over, but lost fourth wicket partner Gregory at 102, caught by Foakes off Sam Curran for 21.The disappointment was only temporary as Myburgh brought up his 50 off 28 balls in the 12th over and laid the platform for Somerset’s second victory of the season.Myburgh and van der Merwe put on an unbeaten 87 for the fifth wicket with the former finishing 86 not out and van der Merwe unbeaten on 39.

Former India captain Anil Kumble and former cricketers Pravin Amre and Lalchand Rajput are among some of the applicants who will make presentations to the BCCI’s three-member cricket advisory panel that will pick India’s head coach

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Kalra 20-Jun-2016Former India captain Anil Kumble and former cricketers Pravin Amre and Lalchand Rajput are among some of the applicants who will make presentations to the BCCI’s three-member cricket advisory panel that will pick India’s head coach. The presentations and interviews will be conducted in Kolkata from Tuesday.It is understood that Kumble and Amre will meet the panel, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, on Tuesday afternoon. It is not yet known whether Ravi Shastri, who was India’s team director until the end of the World Twenty20, will also make a presentation. Shastri, who confirmed his application in early June, did not respond to the query sent by ESPNcricinfo.Sandeep Patil, the chairman of selectors, has reportedly not yet received any communication from the BCCI. Patil had stated earlier this month that he had applied for the job.Last week, the BCCI had trimmed the list of 57 names to 21 but clarified that the advisory committee could be given the entire list if required. The committee is expected to submit its choice by June 22. If it does so, the BCCI could announce the appointment at the working committee meeting in Dharamsala on June 24. In an interview with , Ganguly did not divulge the names of the shortlisted candidates but said that the committee was hopeful of finalising a coach by June 24.”The interviews will start from tomorrow. We know the candidates, we’ve shortlisted the candidates but unfortunately I cannot tell that to you. So please pardon me from doing that. Yes, as you said, the interview is tomorrow and hopefully by June 24 you will get to know the name of the Indian coach,” he said.According to a BCCI official, the advisory panel – which was appointed in June last year – has already met a few times to discuss procedures before it meets shortlisted candidates. It is also understood that the panel, including coordinator Sanjay Jagdale, has done “thorough homework” on the applicants who will travel to Kolkata on Tuesday. When asked whether the interview process will extend to Wednesday, the official said that a decision on that would be taken on the basis of what happens tomorrow.The BCCI is seeking a coach for the India team after Shastri’s contract expired at the end of the World T20 earlier this year. The board opened the process on June 1, with an advertisement on its website, and had set June 10 as a deadline for candidates to apply for the role.Apart from Shastri, Patil and Kumble, current selector Vikram Rathour, Venkatesh Prasad, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and former Bangladesh coach Stuart Law also applied for the job.Among the key qualifications stipulated by the BCCI was that candidates should have coached at the international or first-class level. It was also mentioned that “it is preferred that the candidate should be qualified through a certification/assessment program conducted by any of the Full Member countries, and currently possess such a valid certification.”