Ravi Shastri named India coach, Zaheer bowling consultant

NEW DELHI: Former captain Ravi Shastri was on Tuesday named the new head coach of India for a two-year period, ending weeks of speculation over the high-profile job after Anil Kumble’s dramatic exit.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India also appointed ex-paceman Zaheer Khan as the bowling consultant and Rahul Dravid as batting consultant for overseas tours.

UPDATE: @RaviShastriOfc appointed as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team till ICC World Cup 2019 pic.twitter.com/DwjEjRdFMd

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 11, 2017

“The term of the appointments will be till the World Cup 2019,” the BCCI said in a late night release.

UPDATE: @ImZaheer is appointed as the Bowling Consultant of the India Cricket Team till ICC World Cup 2019 pic.twitter.com/DtOXce957Z

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 11, 2017

An advisory panel comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman “conducted the interviews and recommended these appointments in the best interest of the Indian Cricket”.

Read More: Shastri hot favourite to be new Indian cricket team coach

Shastri, 55, edged out five high-profile names including batting great Virender Sehwag, Australia’s Tom Moody, Englishman Richard Pybus and former India manager Lalchand Rajput, who were interviewed in Mumbai on Monday.

UPDATE: Mr. Rahul Dravid is appointed as the Batting Consultant for overseas Test tours pic.twitter.com/mS1KcVI2Hh

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 11, 2017

Zaheer, 38, has been part of the Delhi Daredevils thinktank in recent Indian Premier League seasons.

Congratulations @ImZaheer @RaviShastriOfc & #RahulDravid. Best wishes for a successful tenure with #TeamIndia @BCCI

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) July 11, 2017

Dravid recently gave up his position as the Daredevils mentor, after accepting a two-year contract to coach India A and Under-19 teams and BCCI said his expertise “will be immensely helpful for youngsters”.

Zak as bowling coach is pretty much the best news in a while in Indian Cricket. Hope he works well with the pace bowlers.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) July 11, 2017