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NEW DELHI - South African Graham Ford changed his mind about becoming India's new cricket coach after confirming his readiness to take the post, a senior cricket board official said today.
Ford turned down the job two days after the Indian board named him to succeed former Australia skipper Greg Chappell, who quit following the team's World Cup debacle.
Ford said he had decided to stay in his post as director of cricket at English county Kent.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer N. Srinivasan told a news conference in Bangalore that Ford had sent a letter with his decision.
"He was selected and...it was only a matter of informing us as to when he would be able to join. Therefore, the board announced it had selected him," Srinivasan said.
"He had said that he would let us know when he could join but he has said he can't join us now. That is all."
The board's decision-making working committee would meet on Tuesday to decide on the issue with the team due to leave on June 20 for a one-day series against South Africa in Ireland followed by a test tour of England.
Ford was selected for the job by India's coaching committee after an interview in Chennai on Saturday, pipping fellow candidate and former England spinner John Emburey.
He told Kent's website: "I am very grateful to the club for allowing me to go to India to find out more about the job of coaching the Indian team.
"I have had a chance to reflect on the offer made by the BCCI and their urgency to fill the vacant position.
"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent.
"This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family."
Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar, a member of the panel which interviewed Ford, said his decision should be respected.
"His unavailability makes us go back to square one," he told reporters, suggesting India could appoint a domestic coach as an interim step, as they did for the Bangladesh series which followed the World Cup.
Graham Johnson, Kent's chairman of cricket, described Ford's decision as "great news", adding: "I would like to say how much we appreciate the way Greg has handled the last few days.
"He has made a significant contribution to our playing performance during his time with us, as well as the system to produce local cricket talent in Kent."
Ford guided South Africa to eight wins from 11 test series in two years until he was axed in 2001 after back-to-back series defeats against Australia during troubled times in the wake of the Hansie Cronje match-fixing saga.
Along with Ford and Emburey, the board had also considered Australian Dav Whatmore, the outgoing Bangladesh coach, before rejecting his bid.
- REUTERS
