Former England spinner John Emburey emerged a surprise contender for the Indian cricket coach's post, for which South Africa's Graham Ford is also in the reckoning.
The announcement that Emburey, 54, who is now Director of Coaching in English county Middlesex, is in the race for the high-profile job was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday.Both Ford, 46, and Emburey would appear before a coach selection team set up by the BCCI in Chennai on June 9.
"The BCCI has invited Graham Ford and John Emburey to come to Chennai and make a presentation to the Special Committee on 9th June, after which a final decision on the next coach of Indian team will be made," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.
Emburey was quoted by AFP as saying that he felt honoured to be considered for "one of the biggest jobs of the world game and one of the most difficult" and he would attend the June 9 meeting in Chennai.He termed Indian cricket team as a "sleeping giant" and said "with the quality of players they've got and young players coming through, I'd really like to be a part of their development".
"At this stage of my career, it is a way of moving forward onto the international stage", he said.
Emburey said Middlesex has received the news of his being considered for the Indian coach's post "very well".
"They (Middlesex) see it as a move forward in my career. But it's not a foregone conclusion. There is another candidate and they have said the Middlesex job remains open for me."
Emburey played in 64 Tests and took 147 wickets. He was also a capable batsman for an off-spinner, scoring 1713 runs at an average of 22.53 between 1978 and 1995. He took 76 wickets from 61
Besides he also captained England in two Tests in 1988.
After his playing career, Emburey coached Northamptonshire and Middlesex, two other teams he played for in first-class cricket.
Ford, who coached South Africa between 1999 and 2001 and currently Director of Coaching with Kent County Club, emerged as the front runner after the BCCI Search Committee meeting in Bangalore on Monday evening, displacing Australian Dav Whatmore to succeed fellow-Aussie Greg Chappell as India's coach.
Ford said he felt "very honoured" and "excited" to be considered for the job.
"Anybody involved with cricket would like to be associated with Indian cricket," he told Times Now TV news channel.
"I am considering the position but I have a contract with Kent. I need to sort that out," Ford said.
Asked if being relieved as South Africa's coach in 2001 in the wake of the match-fixing scam would go against him, he said, "I don't think that should be held against in anyway.
"I think the wrongdoing started before my time as coach. They were exposed very shortly after I joined. I certainly have no links to it. So, I don't suppose anything overtly will be held against me," he said.
Ford claimed his coaching will be successful with the team for its work ethics and long hours he spends with each individual.
"I will do a supporting act to get the players out there to give their best, empowering them and giving them the confidence to perform at the big stage," said Ford, who had worked as assistant to late Bob Woolmer with the South African team before taking over from him after the 1999 World Cup.