BCCI nixes coaching jobs for Bharadwaj, Jeshwant

BANGALORE: Former Karnataka cricketers-turned-coaches Vijay Bharadwaj and K Jeshwanth were overjoyed when they were roped in by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for coaching assignments. But their joy was short-lived when the Board, within days of appointing them, went back on its decision for undisclosed reasons.
Former Test cricketer Bharadwaj, who was a member of the National Cricket Academy coaching faculty until recently, received an e-mail on May 1 confirming his appointment as a batting consultant of U-16 trainees at the NCA here."The e-mail said that I would be in charge of the boys from May 5 to June 15. But two days later, BCCI officials told me that my services were not needed."
Jeshwanth, who also coached Karnataka in the past, was appointed on April 29 to tutor U-19 boys at the NCA Zonal Cricket Academy in Indore from May 5-30.
"I was shocked when BCCI informed me on May 2 that I have been replaced by another coach. The board refused to disclose reasons for cancelling my appointment," said Jeshwanth, a former Karnataka allrounder.
"Coaching is my profession and I was delighted when BCCI sent me the e-mail. I even booked air tickets to Indore. Then came the second message. The BCCI even refused to divulge the name of the coach who replaced me," said Jeshwanth.
Former Test cricketer and Mumbai Indians mentor Anil Kumble said he would take up the issue with BCCI interim president Shivlal Yadav when his team travels to Hyderabad on Sunday for an IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
"It's a disturbing trend. I will discuss this issue with Shivlal," Kumble told TOI. "It's unfair to treat a Test cricketer in this fashion. Both are qualified coaches. I even wrote to BCCI game development officer KVP Rao and general manager Ratnakar Shetty once the issue was brought to my notice by Vijay (Bharadwaj). But so far I have not received any response from them," Kumble said.
Shetty clarified that it was a decision by NCA board members. "Appointment of coaches and their termination is the prerogative of the NCA board," he said.