MUMBAI, 15 June 2007 — We had expressed doubts over the availability of Graham Ford as coach of Team India and the worst fears have come true. A polite “Yes” was soon followed by an even more polite “No, thank you.” In so many words, the former South African coach said that he had better things to do than jump into a snake pit that is Indian cricket today.

Many reasons are being trotted out for Ford turning down the offer. Most of them are in the realm of speculation.

But sources from our end reveal that the messy handling of his interview by the special seven-member committee had left a poor impression on the most suitable candidate.

Ford was close to being humiliated by some of the questioning.

When the terms and conditions were put forth for his consideration, he is reported to have told the BCCI officials that he would go back, consult his present employers, Kent CCC, and then let them know of his availability. At no stage did he even give a hint of his having accepted the offer. The BCCI jumped the gun and announced that Ford was appointed the Team India coach.

The devaluation of the assignment, in the esteem of Graham Ford must have come from the fact that John Emburey too was in the running. An ordinary off-spinner in his playing days, Emburey has a poor track record as a coach. He was sacked from Northamptonshire and Middlesex for failing to deliver the good.

He lacked motivation himself so how could he motivate his players.

The way things have unfolded in the last few days, it is obvious that a small group within the committee is manipulating to get a person of its own choice for the plum post.

For no apparent reason, Dav Whatmore was dumped, even after the top brass of the BCCI had approved his candidature.

Then, the fiasco of an interview of Graham Ford, who was recommended by skipper Rahul Dravid and other senior players in the present team.

The whole tedious exercise of finding another coach will start all over again, with less than a week to go for the Indian team’s departure for Ireland. But one is still not sure what the BCCI, or rather the special committee, wants to do in the matter, which has been unnecessarily delayed for so long.

It will suit the BCCI to once again appoint an interim manager to further postpone tackling this most important problem.