BCCI invites application for head coach; number of matches in Women's T20 Challenge up for discussion

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited applications for the role head coach of India women on Tuesday (April 13), TOI reported. The report also says the governing body is likely to start ‘A’ tour programs for the women’s side.



WV Raman, who took India to T20 World Cup in Australia in February- March 2020, was given an extension to be in charge of the side in the recently concluded home series against South Africa after his contract was expired in October. The deadline to apply for the coaching job is April 26. Other support staff's contracts were also expired and it remains to be seen if fresh applications will be invited for those posts too.



According to the report, the newly appointed coach will have to look after India A teams and Under-19 teams along with the national side as well as the players at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.



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“The BCCI apex council is due to meet on April 16 to formulate a strong plan for the development of women’s cricket. It is important to have a good domestic structure to create a big pool of women’s cricketers,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying. “The ‘A’ tours and Under-19 programs will be a beginning. However, it will also partly depend on how pandemic relents over the next moves.”



With BCCI likely to make key decisions regarding women’s cricket during their Apex Council meeting on Friday (April 16), India women team management and selectors have requested to double the number of games in the upcoming Women’s T20 Challenge, cricbuzz reported on Tuesday (April 13).



Earlier it was reported that Apex Council meeting will discuss the appointment of support staff for the team as well as the Future Tour Programs. On Tuesday, PTI reported that the exhibition T20 tournament is likely to remain a three-team affair and will consist of only four matches.



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The report says it’s unclear whether the board will agree to the team management’s suggestion of increasing the number of matches to seven from the current four that was played. BCCI is in talks with Australia and England boards to have their players as overseas contingent for the tournament.



On Tuesday, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that India will be touring England for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is starting on June 16. International fixtures including England tour, Women’s T20 Challenge, head coach’s appointment will be the key discussion point during the meeting.