PTI

Mumbai, May 20: BCCI has managed to find sponsors for India's three-match series against South Africa in Ireland in June, a top BCCI official said on Saturday.

"We have a few advertisers ready for taking over the entire stadium but have not decided on whom to give the sponsorship to as yet. It will be decided next week," said BCCI Vice President Lalit Modi.

India are to play a series of three ODIs against South Africa in Belfast, as part of the BCCI's off-shore venture, after taking on the host in a one-dayer on June 23.

The matches against South Africa have been scheduled for June 26, 29 and July 1.

Modi said the BCCI approached the companies "directly" after their tender process failed to evoke a response.

"We issued a tender but there was no response. So, we went to the sponsors directly," he said.

"We have a few companies interested. Two sponsors want the whole stadium and a lot others who want smaller pieces.

"We hope to finalise the deal by Wednesday."

BCCI to Name New Coach by Second Week of June

PTI

Chittagong: The BCCI on Saturday said the final decision on appointing a new coach for the Indian team would be taken by the second week of June by a seven-member committee formed for the purpose.

BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah, who arrived here as part of a four-member Board delegation headed by president Sharad Pawar, said, "The final decision will be known by the first or second week of June. The coach selection committee will meet in Bangalore on June 4 and within the next four-five days, things will be finalised."

Shah denied that that the Board's top brass had come here to talk to outgoing Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, but said he was open for a discussion if the Aussie so desired.

"If he wants to meet me, I am open to it. There is no problem."

Shah, who is slated to return to India on Sunday, said the BCCI officials were here on an invitation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and not to negotiate with Whatmore.

"We have come here on an invitation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board to watch the game. We had come here hoping to see Sourav and Sachin score a century. We have not come here to talk to Whatmore."

About the urgency of coach selection, Shah said this was because the team was due to leave for Ireland on June 20.

"That's the reason we plan to complete everything by June 10 and then have a camp for five days in Bangalore before going off for the trip."

Shah refused to say whether Whatmore was the front-runner for the job and claimed that the Board had some other names as well before it.

"It will not be right to talk about this now as the series is mid-way. The committee will decide everything. But we have a lot of names."