Former India pacer Paras Mhambrey, one of the minds behind India’s highly successful A and U-19 team programs, has applied for the senior team’s bowling coach’s post on Monday, BCCI sources revealed.
Mhambrey, who has been working at the National Cricket Academy for nearly a decade, is considered a long-time trusted lieutenant of Rahul Dravid, widely regarded as the next head coach. He has also traveled as the head coach with the Under-19 and India A teams on various tours.
But more importantly, the coaching module devised by the National Cricket Academy has been the handiwork of Dravid and Mhambrey to ensure a smooth transition from Under-19s to A teams and then later to the main team.
“Yes, Paras has officially applied for this post today. The application deadline ends on Tuesday, 26 October. Paras has the requisite experience, having been a part of Indian cricket’s elite coaching system for the past decade,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Monday.
The BCCI is of the view that once the current crop of fast bowlers – mainly Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav – is phased out over the next few years, the next batch is likely to consist of those Either U-19 or a team level.
Mhambrey’s application could be an important step towards Dravid officially throwing his hat in the ring.
BCCI sources had earlier indicated that Dravid has agreed to take up the position which will be vacant after Ravi Shastri’s ouster after the team’s T20 World Cup campaign. The deal will close only after he has applied for the job.
Applying to Mhambre means people from their core team are interested in working with the national team.
Fast bowlers like Avesh Khan, famed Krishna have been a part of the front line A team programme.
The 49-year-old Mhambrey played two Tests and three ODIs for India between 1996 and 1998.
He was a big name in the formidable Mumbai Ranji Trophy team of the 1990s and played 91 first-class matches in which he took 284 five-wicket hauls 13 times.
However, it was as a coach that he earned a lot of respect in the Indian cricket fraternity.
He led Bengal to successive Ranji Trophy finals and also coached Baroda.
He was also part of the set-up of Mumbai Indians for some time before joining the National Cricket Academy.
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