Picture Courtesy : Oneindia
Newly appointed Indian team coach Ravi Shastri on Tuesday held a press briefing after meeting the four-member BCCI panel in which it was announced that Bharat Arun will be Team India’s new bowling coach.
According to the News18 report, Shastri also welcomed both Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan on board as batting and bowling consultants and said that the contracts of the duo will be finalised by the BCCI officials.
“I’ve spoken to both, as recent as three to four days ago and they are two fantastic cricketers of India. Their inputs will be invaluable. They will be on board once they have spoken to the authorities concerned,” said Shastri when asked about Dravid and Zaheer’s contracts.
Sanjay Bangar will continue as the assistant coach of the team while R Sridhar will continue as the fielding coach of the team. All the appointments have been made for a two-year period.
Cricketnext had earlier reported that Shastri was interested to get in Bharat Arun as the bowling coach.
Speaking to CricketNext, a senior BCCI official had said that while Shastri had no issues with both Zaheer and batting consultant (overseas) Rahul Dravid helping the team, but he wants people of his choice to be with the team on a full-time basis.
“Shastri has made it clear that Zaheer can spearhead the unit, but he needs someone like Arun to be around the team and see that what Zaheer suggests is implemented. Shastri is set to meet the Committee of Administrators on Monday and he will put forward his request,” the official informed.
Shastri has made it clear that while he is happy to have the services of former India stars, he wants full-time assistant coaches according to his choice and not that of the CAC.
“The BCCI can certainly bring in guys like Zaheer and Dravid as consultants from time to time. Their experience is invaluable. But as far as a full-time support is concerned, I will need to decide on it because it is me who will be working with them for next two years,” he had clarified.
Arun had replaced Joe Dawes in 2014 and was there with the Indian team till 2016 when Shastri wasn’t appointed coach and Anil Kumble was handed the head coach’s post. Arun and Shastri go back a long way having been buddies since their U-19 days back in early 80’s. It was on Shastri’s recommendation that former president N Srinivasan gave a go-ahead to Arun’s appointment with the senior team when he was the bowling consultant at the NCA.
