Board has open mind on new coach: Muthiah

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. The Code of Conduct, referred to as a ``report of internal regulations'' by Board president, Mr. A.C. Muthiah, is now with the Government. The document was presented on Friday to the Sports Minister, Mr. S.S. Dhindsa by the Board president, who also revealed that he had met Kapil Dev briefly on Thursday.

The time was too short for Mr. Muthiah to thrash out matters with the Indian coach but he did indicate that the Board had an ``open mind'' as far as the appointment of a new coach was concerned.

``As promised earlier, we have presented the report of internal regulations to the Government. It is a new document since we only had the ICC Code of Conduct to follow in the past,'' said Mr. Muthiah.

On his brief meeting with Kapil, the Board president disclosed ``he was in a hurry. We had a general discussion and will talk again. I just wanted to know from him what actually had happened.''

Even as he informed that the contract with Kapil was to expire only in 2001, Mr. Muthiah added that the Board's working committee had authorised him to talk to Kapil. ``The matter has been left to me. I have to find out what position he is in and does he want to continue as coach,'' he said.

The Board president, in the light of his brief interaction with Kapil, did not wish to be drawn into any lengthy debate on the issue. He, however, emphasised that ``Kapil has not said he does not want to continue. He has said that he will have nothing to do with the game only after his term is over.''

When asked if the Board was likely to look for a replacement for Kapil, Mr. Muthiah said ``we have an open mind on this subject but we have not spotted anyone for the job yet. If there is someone very competent we might think. But we are yet to decide if Kapil is to continue. We will have another talk with Kapil in maybe another week's time.''

Mr. Muthiah also referred to the Board's letter to the Government seeking clearance for the tour of Pakistan this winter, and the possibility of India playing a Test against Bangladesh.

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Section  : Sport
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