“Don’t want to travel for 9 months”: Ashish Nehra on his decision to not apply for India coach job
New Delhi: Following Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra revealed that he chose not to apply for the position as he cannot be away from his family for several months.
The 45-year-old Nehra shared that he was not keen to travel for nine months as his children are young and being with family was his priority. “Gautam Gambhir also has young children, but everyone has different thoughts. I am very happy where I am,” Gujarat Titans head coach Nehra told Sports Today during an interview.
Meanwhile, Nehra mentioned that there are differences in coaching a national team and an IPL team. However, he expressed confidence in Gambhir’s capabilities, stating, “With Gambhir, I can confidently say with his passion, experience, he is going to make big changes, and he will do well. One thing is for sure. He will never change as a person. Have seen him all these years, he is the same. He is very upfront and passionate.”
Nehra has had a notable stint as a head coach in the IPL, leading the Gujarat Titans to a title win in their debut season in 2022 and guiding them to the finals again the following year. The former Indian fast bowler is known for his active involvement on the sidelines, often seen communicating plans from the boundary during matches.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
