BCCI gives no reason for ruling out Whatmore

CHENNAI: Refusing to specify any reason for omitting Australian Dav Whatmore from contention for Team India coach's post, the Cricket Board today said it was a collective decision taken by the Search Committee.
    
Asked why Whatmore was ruled out for the post, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said, "it was the committee's decision. There are no grounds or reasons to it."
    
"Two people -- Graham Ford and John Emburey -- have been invited for interview and one of them will be selected," he told reporters on his arrival on Thursday.
    
On why former captain Sunil Gavaskar, who had earlier suggested that an Indian would be better suited to the job, changed his mind in favour of a foreigner, Shah said, "it's his personal opinion. I cannot comment on that."
   
"Emburey's name was suggested by Gavaskar. Every member has the right to suggest candidates. However, the committee will take a decision after the interview," he added.
    
Whatmore was widely believed to be the front-runner to succeed compatriot Greg Chappell as India coach before the Search Committee ruled him out of contention at its meeting in Bangalore on June 4.
 
The committee includes three former India captains - Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.