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After head coach snub, BCCI ignores Ravi Shastri for batting coach role

Sanjay Bangar has been appointed as India's batting coach for the West Indies tour.

Mumbai: After being snubbed for Team India's head coach role, BCCI ignored Cricket Advisory Committee's suggestion to appoint Ravi Shastri as Indian cricket team’s batting coach.

Shastri recently made his disappointment public about the snub. "I was very disappointed because the hard work the entire unit had put in, in the last 18 months. To see where they were when the support staff and I took over and to where they reached in 18 months makes me feel proud," he had said.

Read: Shastri disappointed after being snubbed for Team India head coach job

The former Team India director, who initially was a frontrunner for the post, was pipped by former India skipper Anil Kumble after Test skipper Virat Kohli threw his weight behind the ex-India leg-spinner.

Kumble managed to get past Australia Tom Moody, and was appointed for head coach job for a year.

Read: Rahul Dravid, not Anil Kumble was BCCI’s first choice as India head coach

While there were reports that Shastri, former Team India director, would be handed over the duties of a batting coach, BCCI decided to stick with the current India batting coach Sanjay Bangar for the West Indies tour in the role.

CAC comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – who picked India’s Head Coach – had suggested Shastri’s name for the position of batting coach replacing Bangar.

However, BCCI shot down the suggestion and reminded CAC that it was only allowed to choose Head Coach.

Read: BCCI picks Anil Kumble as Team India's head coach

“It was a long meeting, which lasted seven-eight hours. Ideas were bounced off. Yes, the panel recommended Shastri’s name as batting coach, at which point I intervened. The committee’s mandate was restricted to appointing the head coach of the Indian team and I just reminded them that,” The Indian Express quoted BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke as saying.

Read: Coaches come later, it is always players first: Kumble

“We have taken a decision that like all professional sporting set-ups, the head coach will bring his own team of support staff. The BCCI is striving for transparency, professionalism and excellence,” added the report.

Read: Virat Kohli looks forward to work with 'Kumble Sir'

It is also learnt that Shastri fell behind Moody, former Sri Lanka coach, the Indian cricket board decided to go for Kumble, whose plan to improve India’s overseas record, impressed India’s Test skipper.

Read: Anil Kumble: Epitome of discipline, determination, commitment

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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