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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s search for a new head coach for the Indian men’s cricket team hit a hilarious snag earlier this month. Despite Rahul Dravid‘s contract extension until the upcoming T20 World Cup, the BCCI received a staggering number of applications for the coveted position.
BCCI receives fake applications for the head coach role
The deadline for applications closed on May 27, and according to media reports, the BCCI was inundated with entries featuring some rather unusual candidates. Names like Bollywood celebrities Sunny Leone, Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan, along with prominent figures from Indian politics like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, all surfaced amongst the fake applications. Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni were also impersonated, adding a touch of humour to the situation.
This isn’t the first time the BCCI has faced such an issue. In 2022, when searching for Dravid’s predecessor, they reportedly received around 5,000 fake applications. Back then, applications were submitted via email, but this time, the BCCI opted for an online form on their website, aiming to streamline the process. While it simplified the application process, it also opened the door for mischievous submissions.
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Alternated method to keep out the fake applicants?
The BCCI is now considering alternative methods to weed out such applications in the future.
“Since the application process is in the public domain fans and many people can easily access the form, which is available on the website on BCCI. We may think of reducing all these things going forward we may come up with some new processes of inviting applications which will rule out fake applications,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying to India Today.
While the deluge of fake applications certainly caused amusement, it also highlights the immense popularity of cricket in India and the desire people have to be associated with the national team. The BCCI will now have to navigate the challenge of finding a legitimate successor for Dravid when the time comes, ensuring a smooth transition for Team India.
