The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided not to appoint a coach for Team India until it returns from the twin tour of Ireland and England [Images]. This was revealed by the BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah in an exclusive interview with rediff.com.

"After the unfortunate experience with Graham Ford, we've decided to tread carefully with regard to the selection and appointment of the chief coach of Team India. We won't appoint anyone until the team returns from Ireland and England," said Shah on Tuesday.

Asked how India could go on an important tour of England without a chief coach, Shah emphasised: "The manager Chandu Borde is highly experienced, both as a player and as an administrator, to handle everything. Besides, we're sending Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh as bowling and fielding coaches respectively with the squad. There are already many experienced players in the side and they too can always guide and help the younger members of the team."

After Ford declined the BCCI's offer to coach Team India, names of certain former Indian cricketers, particularly those of Gundappa Viswanath and S Venkataraghavan, were speculated by some television channels as likely candidates for the position.

But Shah made it clear that they were rumours only.

"We have the utmost respect for Viswanath, Venkataraghavan and others, whose names have been discussed in certain sections of the media to coach Team India. But, frankly, we have never discussed their names and they are rumours only," remarked Shah.

Asked if the BCCI would think of appointing an Indian coach, Shah seemed at pains to explain.

"See, we don't want to discuss the issue of Team India's coach any more. At least not until the twin tour of Ireland and England is over.

"Whether an Indian or a foreigner will be appointed coach of Team India will be decided later on. Let me reiterate, we really want to be very, very careful now when it comes to appointing the coach of Team India," he added.

Logically, the BCCI should have appointed John Emburey, who was interviewed by its panel on Saturday along with Ford, after the South African expressed his inability to serve Team India because of his contract with Kent County Cricket Club which runs until the 2008 English season.

However, Shah was all but convincing when asked to shed light on the point.

"No, we don't want to appoint anyone, whether he is an Indian or a foreigner. Not even Emburey for that matter. Let the squad return from the twin tour. Only then the BCCI will take up the issue of the new coach. We have full confidence in Chandu Borde, Venkatesh Prasad, Robin Singh and, of course, Rahul Dravid [Images] and his team."