Despite BCCI guidelines, BCA chief favours hiring Dav Whatmore as coach

Vadodara: The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) may engage former Aussie cricketer, Dav Whatmore for the upcoming cricketing season going against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guidelines on 60-years age cap.
BCA president Pranav Amin has written an email to the apex council members expressing his wish to continue with Whatmore who has been hired as head coach of Baroda Ranji team. He also wrote that the guidelines issued by the BCCI are not mandatory.
“Amin is in favour of bringing in Whatmore for the cricketing season. He said that the guidelines are not mandatory and hence the BCA can continue with Whatmore’s services,” said Ajit Lele, BCA secretary. Lele, however, said that they are yet to take any decision.
The 60-year cap has put BCA in a quandary as Whatmore is 66-years-old. “The apex council will decide if BCA should continue with Whatmore or look for other options,” Lele told TOI.
The BCCI recently issued guidelines for the state cricket associations for tackling Covid-19 during the cricketing season. One of the guidelines under Return to Training section said that individuals who are over the age of 60 years, including the support staff, umpires, ground staff and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease and weakened immunity should be discouraged from participating in the camp activities as they are at higher risk of getting infected with Covid-19.
Two of the BCA apex council members, however, have objected to Amin’s suggestion of continuing with Whatmore. “The BCCI must have issued the guidelines after consulting government and non-government agencies and it is to safeguard the interests of the affiliated associations. I have replied to Amin’s email and said that the BCA should consider the BCCI’s guidelines before taking any decision,” said Kalyan Haribhakti, BCA apex council member.