Decks clear for Gary Kirsten

It is all clear for Gary Kirsten to take over asIndia's new cricket coach with the Board virtually finalising his name and theformer South African cricketer indicating he would accept it by Monday with onlythe official announcement remaining to be made. "The appointment ofKirsten is more or less confirmed," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told reportersafter the board's executive committee's meeting at the Eden Gardens."Some nitty-gritty are yet to finalised. It will take another eightdays to make a formal announcement," said a cautious Shah, apparently in thebackdrop of the episode involving Graham Ford, who backed out from taking up thejob at the eleventh over. It is expected that the announcement islikely to be made around the time when the third Test between India and Pakistantakes place in the second week of this month at Bangalore. The Boardmeeting was chaired by its President Sharad Pawar and attended by Niranjan Shah,Vice-President Rajiv Shukla, Treasurer N Srinivasan and CEO Ratnakar Shettyamong others. Vice-President Rajiv Shukla later said that as Kirstenhas informed the Board that he would not be fully available till the Australiatour, Lalchand Rajput would be assistant coach for that tour. "Ithas also been decided that Robin Singh will remain the fielding coach andVenkatesh Prasad the bowling coach," Shukla said.Kirsten said inDurban that his job in India was very much a "reality" and the deal would be"signed and sealed" by Monday. "They (BCCI) have given me a week tomake a decision but it's pretty much a reality. By Monday, it will be prettymuch signed and sealed," he said. "I have turned down numerouscoaching opportunities due to family reasons in the past but this one is such anesteemed one that I have to take a different look at it," Kirsten said."It's something I always wanted to do and to be offered such anesteemed job is mind-boggling. It's something I am proud to have," he added.Kirsten said only logistics part of the deal was remaining to benegotiated after which he would finalise his decision. "I am verykeen in principle to take up the post. At present, I am just looking at thelogistics with my family and how it is going to work out. Negotiations areunderway about this and I would make a final decision by Monday."Kirsten said the job would become effective immediately but he hadobtained an assurance that he could start from March 1 next year as he had anumber of commitments in South Africa. "I will be moving in and outfor the time being and then join the team on its long Australian tour," said theAfrican, who will joined the team only after the second Test in Australia.Kirsten said he had a very good chat with new skipper Anil Kumble,who was very supportive. "He was very encouraged that I could jointhe team. I am also certainly looking forward to working with Anil and the restof the team." Kirsten said. He said he had discussed it with Kumbleand the skipper had no problem with that. "The last thing you wantto do is come in and be a distraction, but I have spoken to Anil about mysituation and he is comfortable with me joining the tour later." Onhow the whole process started, Kirsten revealed receiving an e-mail from formerIndia captain Sunil Gavaskar, also an important member of BCCI's coach selectioncommittee, and said he was surprised. "I think it's an incrediblehonour. When I received an e-mail from Sunil Gavaskar a couple of weeks ago,initially I was rather surprised and then realised what an honour it is to besupposedly headhunted for what I could consider to be such a fantastic job."Aware that he does not have the experience of coaching a side in thepast, Kirsten, however, oozed confidence of making a mark and said he would nottry to impose ideas on his wards. "I will not be coming in andimposing my ideas on them. That would be wrong. I will try and blend in and helpanyway I can." Dwelling on the Australia tour, Kirsten predictedIndia would cash in on Australia's lack of a quality spinner, especially afterdoubt over Stuart MacGill. "They've obviously had Shane Warne therefor many years, and he was able to fill a lot of jobs for them, most notably hisability to strike and take wickets in all conditions and situations," Kirstensaid. "Now there is a possibility that Australia may play aninexperienced spinner, and I'm sure the Indian batsmen will look to put pressureon whoever that turns out to be," Kirsten said. "If they can do thatsuccessfully, it could play into India's hands. They have got a good recordagainst Australia, and I think the guys are feeling pretty confident headinginto the series," he said. The South African, however, insisted thatthe Australians could never be underestimated. "I'm always very waryof an Australian team that seems to have a few holes in it," he said."They have plenty of depth and in a lot of cases have the players toreplace those who have left. Someone like Hogg is a good example, having playeda lot of one-day cricket, and he could do a good job. Still, there seems to beuncertainty there, so you have to look at it." Earlier, Kirsten wasquoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald' that he was approached late bythe BCCI and hence could join the Indian squad only in the second half of theirAustralia tour. "The reality is that I was approached quite late bythe Indian board, and, in accepting the job, I told them I had commitments overChristmas and New Year. But it looks like we are close to resolving that issue,and I will join the team for the last two Tests," Kirsten was quoted as sayingby the daily.