Ravi Shastri, Sandeep Patil among 57 applicants for India coach's post

New Delhi: Former Team Director Ravi Shastri and current chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil are the most notable names among the 57 applications that the BCCI has received for the chief coach's position when the deadline closed on June 10. The BCCI has confirmed the number of applications via a media release. [caption id=“attachment_2830858” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Ravi Shastri. Getty[/caption] “At the close of the June 10, 2016, the timeline set for receiving applications for the position of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, BCCI has received a total of 57 applications from coaches within India and overseas,” the release stated. “The primary scrutiny of the applications received is now being carried out by the Office of the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, with regards to the applicants, meeting the set eligibility criteria. After this initial scrutiny, the list of candidates who meet the criteria will be processed for further consideration,” it further stated. Apart from Shastri and Patil – both accomplished India players during their time – some of the other Indian names that have applied for the top job include former seamers Venkatesh Prasad and Balwinder Singh Sandhu, and left-handed middle-order batsman of yesteryears Hrishikesh Kanitkar. However, Shastri’s group of support staff Bharat Arun, R Sridhar and Sanjay Bangar have not applied for the chief coach’s post and probably will be waiting till BCCI comes up with the second set of recruitments on specialised coaches – namely batting, bowling and fielding. The coach appointment is expected to be made before the team travels to the West Indies in July for a four-match Test series.