Lalchand Rajput waits for Kirsten and BCCI to decide

MUMBAI, November 27: The extended honeymoon of the Indian team's cricket manager, Lalchand Rajput, may well come to an end with the series against Pakistan. But that would depend entirely on Gary Kirsten's decision. Kirsten has sought a week's time to accept the term offered to him. But it is not yet known how soon he will be able to join the team. If he can't come quickly enough, Rajput may still stay in the picture.
TOI has learnt that this situation is emerging as Kirsten initially wanted to take charge only from the third Test against Australia. But the panel managed to convince him that it would be better if he accepts the job before the first Test itself. The ball started rolling when president Sharad Pawar himself declared that the new coach will be appointed before the tour to Australia. That meant that Rajput had to soon vacate the cricket manager's post. The board offered him the job of the Under-19 team coach for 2008 World Cup. There were, in fact, reports that Rajput had already been given a letter to that effect but it was denied on Tuesday by secretary Niranjan Shah.
Rajput himself wants to look no further than his present assignment. "I have been executing my duties as cricket manager since the Twenty20 World Cup and at present we are in the middle of a very important series against Pakistan. I am concentrating totally on the job at hand," he said.