The Board of Control for Cricket in India has asked coach John Wright to suggest a "suitable" new fitness trainer for the Indian cricket team.
"We have already spoken to John to look into the matter and use his sources to identify and suggest a new trainer to take the mantle of Adrian Le Roux," BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta said in Delhi on Tuesday.
"Hopefully, we should be able to narrow our choice to a few individuals in due course," Rungta added.
The Indian team's fitness trainer, Adrian Le Roux, opted in favour of his native South African cricket board rather than extend his one-year contract with the BCCI which expired after the World Cup in South Africa in March this year.
The Indians, it is learnt, have made up their mind to look only for a foreign trainer even though Le Roux had spoken highly about the ability of a few Indian trainers.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is also exploring the possibility of seeking opinion from experts in South Africa and Australia, who are the leaders in modern, scientific approach to the game.
However, it is unlikely that the Board will offer a hard-bound contract to the new trainer. He will have a loose arrangement with the BCCI and his ability will be monitored before a formal contract is offered.
"This is nothing new. We have been following only this practice. Even with Le Roux, he was given a formal contract only after we were satisfied with his ability after the tour to the West Indies in April-June last year," Rungta said.
Wright was instrumental in getting Le Roux aboard the Indian bandwagon during the tour to South Africa in 2001, in Blomfontein, where India lost a Test in three-and-a-half days.
Le Roux joined the Indian team in the Caribbean, in Guyana, last April before the start of the first Test in Georgetown, but so impressive was his work with the boys, especially the fast bowlers, that he became a regular thereafter and earned wide appreciation for his services.
India has at least four months free of any cricket commitments before New Zealand arrive for a two-Test and triangular series in October.
India will then embark on an arduous tour of four Tests and a triangular series in Australia between November and February.
