Strangely, the former India captain, chief selector and manager is yet to be “briefed” by the Board.

“The chief administrative officer (Prof Ratnakar Shetty) has spoken to me… There’s time… I’ll get the details on June 19, before the team’s departure,” Borde added.

Borde, who turns 73 next month, was plucked out of nowhere after South African Graham Ford left the Board red-faced.

Incidentally, the last time Borde had been the manager was on the 1989-90 tour of Pakistan when Krishnamachari Srikkanth was at the helm.

Then, of course, managers largely looked after the travel arrangements and ensured there were enough balls for practice. Made the customary after-dinner speeches at official functions too.

Today, it’s a different world.

Aware that this stop-gap arrangement was continuing to get much stick, Borde pointed out that except for Bengal’s Ranadeb Bose, he “personally knew” the players picked for the ODIs in Ireland and Scotland and the Test series in England.

Rookie Ranadeb is in the Test squad.

Rahul Dravid

“Don’t forget that not long ago, I had a hand in the selection of quite a few of them… Then, I’ve worked with the Rohit Sharmas on assignments given by the National Cricket Academy… It’s not that I’ve been out of touch with the game…”

Asked whether he’d been mentally preparing himself for a hugely challenging two-and-a-half months, Borde replied: “Well, yes… But because of the suddenness of the Board’s decision, I’m also having to complete a lot of personal things… Right now, I’m meeting those commitments.”

Hopefully, everything will be in order by the time he boards the Team India (Mumbai-London) flight in the early hours of Wednesday.