No decision yet on new Vidarbha coach, says Vaidya
| Date :01-Jul-2020 |
Prashant Vaidya
By Anupam Soni :
THE post of head coach of two-time Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup champions Vidarbha is lying vacant since Chandrakant Pandit bid good-bye to the team after a three-year successful stint. Soon after his decision to take Madhya Pradesh job, lockdown was imposed in the nation due to COVID-19 pandemic. All the activities, including the sporting ones, were closed and with Maharashtra Government extending it by another month till July 31, uncertainty still looms large on resumption of sporting activities. In these tough times when the future scenario is not clear and social distancing has become one of the important norms, the who’s who of Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has not met to find Pandit’s replacement.
“Till we receive any direction from the BCCI on lockdown and have an idea on how the season is going to be, we can’t take any decision. We have made no discussions on it (selecting a coach) and I think it is meaningless to discuss it now. No candidates have been shortlisted. To all those who have approached me, I have clearly told them that once the lockdown is over and there is hope of some activity then only we will think about it.
It is pointless till then,” said VCA Vice-President Prashant Vaidya, who is also Chairman, Cricket Administration and Development Committee (CADC) while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. On the number of candidates who have approached him Vaidya said, “Definitely people are approaching me as they all know that Chandu is not there. About 4-5 candidates have approached me. This is a professional world and they are showing their interest. Since I personally know them they have talked to me. But it is of no use as we don’t know about the season.
It might be a short season or only one-dayers are played. There are also talks that in longer version the action may be limited to zones (like it was earlier and we played in Central Zone). In either case, the requirements for the team would be of different kind. Unnecessarily jumping the gun makes no sense.” Retired domestic stalwart Wasim Jaffer, who was instrumental in Vidarbha winning national titles, had expressed his desire to take up the mantle from Pandit. According to reports, the Mumbaikar even approached Vidarbha but felt dejected as his calls to Vaidya went unanswered. Clearing the air, Vaidya said, “The comment was very unnecessary. The report in its opening statement says we discussed his role as batting consultant and then says that I have not talked to him. How can that happen without a dialogue? “We had some discussion. I told him that we are not holding any discussion on coach in these times and that he was absolutely free. But probably he was very keen.
From my side I was very clear that unless we have clear instructions form the BCCI regarding the lockdown there is no point in discussing the issue. It was really very unnecessary. “And moreover, I had not ruled him out. When we would have sat for finalising the coach we would have discussed his name too as well as that of others. I knew he was getting offers...he also had one from Chhattisgarh. I did not hold him saying that he was open to take his own decisions. He was dealing in his own way but as he was very keen, probably he felt that way. Jaffer as a batting consultant was more suitable but he did not look much interested in that (role).”
VCA President Anand Jaiswal
‘Vaidya is right person to take a call on coach’ SINCE it being an entirely cricket related decision, President of the Vidarbha Cricket Association Adv Anand Jaiswal marked his deputy Prashant Vaidya as the right person to take a call on finalising the coach for Vidarbha team. “Till now we have not started any discussion on that (selection of coach). I don’t think that we will get a full season. We have a few men in mind but we have approached nobody yet. In fact, we have not discussed the issue even among ourselves in detail. It is a cricketing decision as to who will be the coach of the team. Prashant will be the main person to take a call on that,” said Jaiswal.