A tight slap to BCCI by Graham Ford

Former India cricketer Kirti Azad has termed the recent snubbing of India coaching job by South African Graham Ford as a slap on the Board of Control for Cricket India.

"The way the wiseacres went about the coach’s selection was bizarre to say the least. The Board did not do its homework on Ford. The working committee should have asked him to talk to his present employer (Kent) prior to making the announcement. The entire turn of events smacks of the BCCI’s incompetence," Azad was quoted as saying to cricketnext.com.

Azad said BCCI has always been a laughing stock in world cricket.

Meanwhile, former India coach Madan Lal said that BCCI erred in not nominating more candidates for the position.

“Dav Whatmore could have been called for a presentation along with five other candidates. We would have had more options," Lal added.

Although Ford's separation from his employers Kent was thought to be a mere formality by the BCCI it found out that it wasn’t to be after board’s secretary Niranjan Shah said: "It has been cleared. Ford wants to speak to Kent and he will inform us in the next 24 hours."

Ex-opener Chetan Chauhan said the BCCI had "made a mistake" as they should have confirmed Ford's availability before inviting him for the interview.

Former India captain and coach Ajit Wadekar blamed the Board for the embarrassing situation.
"I think we have made ourselves a laughing stock. Without getting to know his availability, what he has in mind, or whether he wanted to accept it or not. We should have checked all that," said Wadekar.

"We should have checked it up before we took the decision. We should have given him time before announcing his appointment immediately. We should have given him a couple of days to think it over. I think that's how generally we do it," he said.

And if BCCI knew that after Ford’s selection, he needs to speak with Kent and has given 24 hours time then why the announcement has been done in such a hurry.

World’s richest Cricket Body is working in a very unprofessional way.

Working committee to meet on Tuesday
With Kent-based South African Graham Ford declining to take up India coaching job, the BCCI has found itself in a big dilemma.

Stunned by Ford’s disclosure on turning down the offer to coach India on Kent’s website on Monday, the BCCI's Working Committee now meets in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the Ford fiasco.

It now seems that BCCI will have to start the process of selecting a new coach all over again.
At a press conference, the BCCI treasurer, Mr Srinivasan while reacting to Ford’s refusal, said: "Mr Ford had informed the BCCI's Working Committee that it was only a matter of informing us as to when he would be able to join. Therefore the Board announced that they had selected him."

Graham Ford refused to take up the challenge of coaching Team India

Earlier, the Indian cricket board on Monday received a major set back after South African Graham Ford declined to coach the Indian team just two days after he was appointed to take up the job.
Although Ford had gone back to Kent to seek permission from the county where he is the director of cricketer, his last minute stance to decline the offer has certainly taken the BCCI by a big surprise.

Ford's current employers Kent County Cricket Cricket Club wrote on their official website that their Director of Cricket had rejected the offer to take up the toughest job in world cricket.
"I am very grateful to the Club for allowing me to go to India to find out more about the job of coaching the Indian Team. I have had a chance to reflect on the offer made by the BCCI and their urgency to fill the vacant position," Ford stated in a letter to Kent.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent. This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family," Ford added, wishing to continue working with the English county side.

Graham Johnson, Kent’s Chairman of Cricket was happy to have retained Ford's services.
"This is really great news for Kent cricket. We are delighted Graham has decided to stay with us. I would like to say how much we appreciate the way Graham has handled the last few days," Johnson said.

When the BCCI decided to name a new coach there were just two candidates for the post with South Africa Ford and former England off-spinner John Emburey being the incumbents.