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Anurag Thakur, newly-elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced the opening for the post of the head coach of the Indian cricket team during his first media address as president in Mumbai on Sunday (May 22).
Thakur, elected unanimously after Shashank Manohar stepped down to take up the top job with International Cricket Council, said the board will advertise for the vacancy and receive applications till June 10 before a final decision is taken.
"We will advertise for the post of coach today. By 10th of June, anyone interested can apply. Shortlisting (of candidates) and finalising can be done after that," Thakur told media.
Asked about the board's plans to implement Justice Lodha panel's recommendations, Thakur said that the cricket's governing body has not shied away from taking extreme measures when required. "We have already made reforms even before their decision was made. We are looking at what is practical. Whenever it is time to do something more, we will do it," Thakur assured.
"All I can say today, if you look at twitter report, the fastest growing league is IPL. If you look at the other side of it, the major revenue comes from home series and advertisement. The state associations create infrastructure. In India, the othe sports infrastructure is created by government. Only in cricket, it is created by BCCI. Not a single penny takes from central or state government. If you look at the pensions given to ex-cricketers, where is that money coming from? It is coming from this only. Only Thakur and Shirke will suffer? No. It is the state associations," said Thakur when quizzed about the Lodha panel's recommendations regarding cutting down on advertisements.
He also mirrored the views of outgoing president Shashank Manohar in terming that a few of the recommendations were impractical but added that board will appoint more professionals whenever there is a need. Meanwhile, Santosh Ragnekar has been named as the new Chief Financial Officer of the BCCI.
Ajay Shirke, the new secretary of BCCI, was also critical of few of the reforms suggested. "Often improvement does not meanreinventingthe wheel," he said before adding, "The matter is still under the consideration of the court."
While announcing the initiatives that will be taken up by the board in the upcoming year, Thakur announced the decision to add more tournaments to the itinerary of the Women's cricket team.
"Women's team will play more tournaments in the coming years. We will ask them (women's committee) to come back with a decision as to what should happen at the national level and state level," Thakur announced.Thedecision on women cricketers' participation in Women's Big Bash League, Women's Cricket Super League and Women's Indian Premier League will also be taken by the same committee.
Thakur also announced BCCI's initiative to reserve at least 10 percent of seats in all stadiums for students, girl-child and differently-abled citizens to popularise Test cricket in the country.
In order to ensure transparency, all state associations have been instructed, as per Thakur, to be active on social media platforms to engage more with the media and audience alike.
BCCI has also allotted Rs 100 crore budget for turning the existing stadiums into 'green-stadiums' by facilitating rain-water harvesting and installing solar panels. In addition, BCCI has also reserved Rs 5 cr for the blind and deaf & dumb Indian cricket teams.
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