Former New Zealand opener John Wright has been called for negotiations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Wright who currently coaches English county Kent is expected to meet the officials in Mumbai on October 23. Wright is one of the coaches who has been shortlisted by the Indian board.

Talking to the Press Trust of India in Mumbai on Friday, board sources said "Wright is expected to reach Mumbai on October 22 to meet us the next day." The sources added that the Kiwi is the frontrunner for the job even ahead of Australia's Geoff Marsh.

Earlier, Australian Geoff Marsh was also asked to meet board officials sometime this month. Marsh, who coached the Australian side to World Cup victory last year in England is the other candidate whom the board has approached. Apart from Marsh and Wright, another Australian, Dean Jones and West Indian Andy Roberts have shown keen interest. In a letter to the BCCI they also have expressed their willingness to coach the national side.

Meanwhile, PTI quoting board sources said that the BCCI in its September 29 AGM at Chennai has taken an unanimous decision that the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) will not be allotted any international matches this season. The sources said "It was a unanimous decision taken by the General Body at Chennai (on September 29). They (PCA officials) have given a 99-page chargesheet to the CBI about the Board and other units even as they are part of us and take part in the meetings. It has angered everyone in the Board."

Former BCCI president IS Bindra has been constantly criticising the working of the board and had hit out against some of the officials. He also met the CBI and handed over a document to the agency. The BCCI has also decided to withhold the grant which was to be given to the PCA. This decision may affect the prospect of Mohali staging a game with the Zimbabweans and Australians due to visit the country - the former in Nov-Dec '00 and the latter in Feb-Mar '01.

In a related development, the board has set-up a two member committee - Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty and former national selector Shivlal Yadav to go into the proposal made by three new states - Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh for affiliations. The committee will make a thorough study of the states' facilities and infrastructure and submit its recommendations.

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