Chappell seeks time for taking up NCA post

Greg Chappell has been given one month's time to decide on continuing his association with Indian cricket as a consultant or director of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Chappell, who decided not to extend his contract as coach of the Indian cricket team following the World Cup debacle, was given the offer by Board President Sharad Pawar to remain involved with Indian cricket, according to BCCI sources.

After presenting his World Cup report, Chappell was made the offer by Pawar and the former Australian captain sought some time to make up his mind, they said.

It was also decided that the issue of whether to continue with Rahul Dravid or appoint a new captain in the aftermath of the World Cup disaster would be dealt by the selection committee, the sources said.

The Working Committee meeting on Saturday would deliberate at length on the reports submitted by Chappell and tour manager Sanjay Jagdale, Chappell and Dravid besides discussing the suggestions of the former captains.

Chappell, who was scheduled to leave for Singapore tonight with his wife Judy, subsequently postponed the departure for an indefinite period though the official reason given was that he was indisposed.

Meanwhile, the BCCI was yet to decide on the new coach to succeed Chappell and was dabbling with the idea of inviting applications once again and choose one from among those as was the case when the Australian was appointed in 2005.

The matter is likely to come up for discussion at the Working Committee meeting in Mumbai on Saturday, the sources added.

The sources also said Dravid wanted that the captain should have a say in the selection of the coach and the team.

The Working Committee will also discuss on Dravid's suggestions, they added.