BCCI reject another Gambhir suggestion; Morkel won’t be bowling coach: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have reportedly shot down yet another support staff suggestion from new head coach Gautam Gambhir, with the latest casualty believed to be South Africa’s Morne Morkel. 

The retired South African speedster, who is the bowling coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), was believed to have been suggested to the board by Gambhir, who wanted the 39-year-old to be a part of his coaching team.

But according to a report in Economic Times, the BCCI seem to have rejected Gambhir’s recommendation.

The board are believed to have already rejected several other recommendations from Gambhir, including Vinay Kumar and L Balaji for the bowling coach role and Ryan ten Doeschate and Jonty Rhodes for the fielding coach role.

“One insider has suggested that this was one way in which BCCI was letting Gambhir know that although he was its choice for head coach, he was not going to be the one calling the shots,” the report added.

“There was also a school of thought that suggested that this was only reflective of the change in the functioning of BCCI. Where previously decisions were taken largely by committee and consensus, it's an open secret that the power is now centered around few individuals.”

Gambhir was appointed head coach of the Indian Men’s side last week, but the BCCI are yet to finalise the backroom staff. The 42-year-old’s first assignment as head coach will be the white-ball tour against Sri Lanka starting July 27.

The squad for the white-ball tour is expected to be announced later today (July 17).

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