— Photo: PTI

THE DECISION MAKERS: BCCI president Sharad Pawar flanked by secretary Niranjan Shah (right) and treasurer N. Srinivasan at the working committee meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday named Chandu Borde as manager of the Indian team's tour of Ireland and England.

The Board decided that no coach would be appointed for now, as there was not enough time to go through the entire process. The team leaves for Ireland on June 19.

The Working Committee of the BCCI met here to assess the situation after South African Graham Ford turned down the offer to be India's cricket coach.

Change of heart

Addressing the media persons after the meeting, the BCCI Treasurer N.

Srinivasan said that the Board had asked Ford whether he was ready to take up the job.

"After returning to England he changed his mind despite having said that he was in a position to take up the job," Mr. Srinivasan said, adding, "such things do happen in life."

The Board said that it was Ford who had submitted his resume and come to Chennai for an interview. "He showed his inclination to join and we had clearly asked him whether he had any problems in joining," said Mr. Srinivasan.

Ford had apparently said that he would have to talk to his current employers, Kent, before taking any decision.

Former captain and coach Borde will be in-charge of the team for the two tours only. The Board said that Borde has been appointed as the Working Committee felt that he could manage the team.

Asked about the search for a new coach, Mr. Srinivasan said that the process would start in due course.

In the meanwhile, the BCCI has renewed the contracts of the bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh by one year.

As regards the players contract, the Board has decided to continue with the existing contract, which ends on September 2007. "If any change is required in the contract, it can be incorporated at a later date," said Mr. Srinivasan.

The proposal of Zee to launch Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been rejected by the Board.

The itinerary:

Against Australia: Arrival: Sept. 25; 1st ODI: Sept. 29 (Bangalore, D/N); 2nd ODI: Oct. 2 (Kochi); 3rd ODI: Oct. 5 (Hyderabad); 4th ODI: Oct. 8 (Guwahati); 5th ODI: Oct. 11 (Baroda); 6th ODI: Oct. 14 (Nagpur); 7th ODI: Oct. 17 (Mumbai, D/N).

Against Pakistan: Arrival: Nov. 2; 1st ODI: Nov. 6 (Faridabad); 2nd ODI: Nov. 9 (Mohali, D/N); 3rd ODI: Nov. 12 (Kanpur); 4th ODI: Nov.15 (Gwalior, D/N); 5th ODI: Nov. 18 (Jaipur, D/N); 1st Test: Nov. 22-26 (Delhi); 2nd Test: Nov. 30-Dec. 4: (Kolkata); 3rd Test: Dec. 8-12 (Bangalore).

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