Rediff

Mumbai, Sep 4: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday took strong exception to coach Gary Kirsten's comments that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is ready for Test captaincy and asked the South African to strictly concentrate on his job.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah categorically told Kirsten to avoid airing his views in the media and focus on coaching.

"As per the rules and regulations, Kirsten should not have spoken such things in the media; it is not his job. We have the selectors to decide who should be the captain," Shah told reporters in Rajkot.

"His job is to coach the Indian team and not give interviews on selection matters or captaincy. His comments have not gone down well with those concerned, because he is an important member of the support staff. But I will still give him the benefit of doubt," Shah said.

He also dismissed the notion that Kumble should hang up his boots.

"Anil is a great cricketer and he knows well when to quit. As long as he is in form I don't think the selectors are going to drop him," he said.

Kirsten had told a television channel earlier this week that Dhoni, skipper of the One Day International team, is ready to take over the Test team's captaincy from Anil Kumble.

'He (Dhoni) is ready for it (Test captaincy) but there is no need to rush as of now. Anil (Kumble) has done an exceptional job; he is a great leader and he is toiling in many overs for India. He is prepared to do 30 overs in a day. But he is on the other side of the physical side of the game,' he had said.

Shah said Kumble is doing well and the selectors are not contemplating any change at the helm of the Test team.

"Anil Kumble is a great cricketer. He knows when he should bow out or give up the captaincy. Right now he is bowling very well and the selectors will never drop him or change the captaincy," he said.