Former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten said on Tuesday he has been offered the job as India coach.
”They have offered me the job,” Kirsten said from Delhi.
”I asked them for some time to consider it and they were very obliging, but it’s an extremely exciting prospect and, provided a few details can be worked out, I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
The 40-year-old, who has left India and was due to arrive back in South Africa on Wednesday morning, will succeed Greg Chappell if he accepts the job, which comes with a two-year contract.
Indian cricket board (BBCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah told Reuters earlier on Tuesday that Kirsten was the only candidate. ”There are no other names at the moment,” he said.
Kirsten added: ”It’s an honour to be offered the job — the chance to be able to contribute and add value to Indian cricket is very flattering.
”It’s not the kind of opportunity that comes along very often and you may have long-lasting regrets if you decline it.
”As a South African there is only one other job bigger than this, and that’s coaching my own country, but the timing of this opportunity could hardly be better.”
Kirsten was interviewed by members of the BCCI’s special coach committee on Monday and a decision is expected later this week when senior board officials meet.
India have been without a coach since Australian Chappell resigned after their first-round exit at the World Cup in March and the team have had interim managers since the tour of Bangladesh in May.
Kirsten met a committee comprising board president Sharad Pawar, former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, treasurer N Srinivasan and Shah.
Test captain Anil Kumble, who has played against Kirsten, was also present at the meeting.
South African Graham Ford turned down the job in June.
Kirsten, a left-handed opening batsman, played 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals for South Africa in an 11-year career that ended in 2004.
His coaching experience, however, is limited to having been Cricket South Africa’s high performance manager before setting up his own academy in Cape Town. He conducted a coaching clinic with the Zimbabwe national team in June.
”But he is an experienced cricketer,” Shah said when asked about Kirsten’s limited coaching experience. ”He was a great player.”
India hold a 1-0 lead over Pakistan in their current test series and travel to Australia next month for a four-test rubber. — Reuters