In a late night development, Ravi Shastri has been confirmed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team by BCCI acting President CK Khanna. 

Zaheer Khan has been named the bowling coach and Rahul Dravid will be the batting consultant for foreign tours.

After interviewing five candidates for the job, which fell vacant after Anil Kumble’s acrimonious exit, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had decided to keep the decision on hold yesterday. 

Shastri, who had a successful stint as Team Director between 2014-2016, was the frontrunner for the job. Shastri’s first assignment will be a Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning July 26. 

The CAC had interviewed Shastri, Sehwag, Moody, Richard Pybus and Lalchand Rajput on July 9 but delayed the announcement on the chosen candidate, saying that the matter needs to be discussed with captain Virat Kohli. 

CAC member Sourav Ganguly had made it clear that Kohli’s inputs will be sought before the final outcome. It’s not clear whether Virat Kohli’s views were finally taken before arriving at the final decision.

The BCCI earlier denied reports that Ravi Shastri has been appointed coach of the Indian cricket team but dropped hints the announcement can be made as early as tonight after Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)’s deliberations on the matter are over.

Amid media frenzy that Shastri has been named coach till the 2019 World Cup, BCCI Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary urged media to observe restrain. “No decision has been made on appointment of new coach. The CAC is still deliberating over it. Irrespective of what various channels are running that’s not the truth. The three CAC members are still deliberating. We are as eager to know as you are. Let’s not put out things that are not true and not reached the stage of finality,” Chaudhary said.

DNA