Ravi Shastri all set to return as Team India Director, Men in Blue get new physio

Dubai: Ravi Shastri is set to return as Team India director for the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour. "The 54-year-old former all-rounder took a break for the short tour of Zimbabwe as he had some prior commitments for the Ashes but he will board a flight to Sri Lanka", a top BCCI source said from Mumbai.

Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar will continue to be the members of Team India support staff. "All support staff that toured Zimbabwe are retained except the physio", the source added.

"Yogesh Parmar was a short-time appointee for the Zimbabwe tour but now he will be replaced by an Australian physio Patrick Farhat", the source further added.

Patrick Farhat (Photo: DC/File)

Read: Team India physio Nitin Patel quits

"Farhat has not been handed over a long-term contract. His performance will be monitored during Sri Lanka trip before the final decision is taken. He will be arriving in Mumbai shortly", the source further added.

Interestingly, Farhat has treated few international players. "He is a legend", former Bangladesh coach, Shane Jurgensen said exclusively.

"He is very well respected in Australia and players have a high regard for him. He has also helped with a few Bangladesh players. He has been a very good resource as a consultant providing expert advice when a few Bangladesh players had serious injuries," he added.

"He helped with Shakib serious injury from late 2012. Shakib had very serious chronic shin problems when I was there and he helped design Shakib's design program after the player went to Australia for an operation", Jurgensen concluded.