BCCI picks new India head coach: Five FAQs to understand board's selection process for high-profile job

After India completed T20I and ODI series wins in their tour to America and the Caribbean, Virat Kohli’s troops will now focus on the stiffest challenge of the tour. The first of the two-Test series starts on 22 August, which also marks the start for India and West Indies’ campaign in World Test Championship. However, part of the Indian team’s attention is expected to the affairs taking place back home, where a different tussle is taking place in the form of the selection of the new head coach. Team India’s current coach Ravi Shastri and the support staff are serving their 45-day extension after their contract ended at the culmination of the World Cup. Shastri has been India’s coach for the last year and a half and some reports suggest that he has shown his interest in continuing in the role. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which will help understand how the new coach of Indian cricket team will be selected: Who will pick the new head coach? The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has formed a three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) led by Kapil Dev to pick the new coach. The other two members are Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy. The trio had picked the women’s team coach WV Raman in December last year. The committee will ask the candidates to pitch a presentation and will interview them based on that. Who all have applied for the role of new head coach? As per several media reports , it has been reported that there are five contenders who have applied for the job. However, there is no official list of contenders released by BCCI who will be interviewed by CAC. After receiving over 2000 applications, BCCI has shortlisted five contenders which include –  Robin Singh, Lalchand Rajput, Mike Hesson, Tom Moody, Phil Simmons. The last date to apply for new coach job was 30 July (Tuesday). Can Ravi Shastri apply for the head coach job? No, Shastri is not required to apply again. Being the incumbent coach, he receives a direct entry into the six-man race for the job. He will be interviewed by the CAC. As he is in the Caribbean with the Indian team, he will connect to the CAC members via Skype for presentation and interview. When will the new coach be announced? Interviews will be held on Friday, 16 August with BCCI expected to announce the new coach on the same day after the completion of the interviews. Reports suggest the announcement will be made around 7 pm. Will Virat Kohli have any say in selection process? No, Indian captain Virat Kohli will have no say on the proceedings to select the new coach. Before departing to the tour to America and the Caribbean nations, Kohli had said that he has not been contacted by the CAC for any sort of consultation. However, on being asked about his preference, he did say that he would like to see Shastri back as coach . He had said, “Well, the CAC has not contacted me on this. But all of us share a great camaraderie with Ravi bhai and would definitely be very happy (to have him around).” CAC member Anshuman Gaekwad had said later on that  Kohli's preference will be of no significance when the committee sits to pick the coach.