Ravi Shastri's appointment as the director of cricket for the England ODIs might leave current coach, Duncan Fletcher, with no alternative but to resign from his post as the head coach of the Indian team, sources from the Indian board have indicated. It has also been speculated that Fletcher might quit his position even before the start of the home series against West Indies, scheduled in October.
"Duncan has no powers left whatsoever. Ravi will be calling the shots and Duncan knows it only too well. At this point of time, with no choice of support staff, Duncan will have to take a back seat. If Duncan wants to leave before the next home series against West Indies, the board will not stop him," a senior BCCI office-bearer told PTI on condition of anonymity.
When he was asked if Fletcher gave any indication about his future, the official said: "The BCCI has sent him enough feelers that he is not required!"
"Ravi and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be involved in strategising. Sanjay (Bangar) has proven credentials and knows the younger members of the side. The current crop of fast bowlers have worked at National Cricket Academy (NCA) under (Bharat) Arun. So tell me what shall Duncan bring to the table. If he can read between the lines, then he can tender his resignation and it will be accepted," the official added.
This is in contrast to Sanjay Patel, Honorary Secretary, BCCI, who had said to ESPNCricinfo that both Dhoni and Fletcher were taken into confidence before appointing Shastri as the director of cricket for the England ODIs.
"I conveyed the BCCI decision to both of them. Dhoni readily agreed and even Duncan has not said a word here or there," he had said. "The team is with Ravi Shastri. Now it is his baby," Patel had added.
The players will disperse at the end of the England tour. While some have no cricketing commitments coming up, a few players will be involved with their respective franchises in the 2014 edition of the Champions League. The home series against West Indies starts only on October 8th and Fletcher will be on leave until then.
"There are still doubts as to whether he (Fletcher) will be present in the Indian dressing room during that series. In any case, India will be favourites at home and that is the time when the new Team Director and the new support staff will be able to know the players better before the tour of Australia," the official said.
Fletcher's contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) runs until the end of the 2015 World Cup, but there is an exit clause mentioned which might allow the board to summarily sack him.
The source also said that Rahul Dravid's name came up during the discussion, but the former Indian captain was reportedly not keen on the full time job, citing family commitments.
The official also said the future of India's captain, MS Dhoni, never came up for any sort of discussion. "There has been no discussions as such about Dhoni's future as of now," he said.
