New Delhi: Back at the helm as head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri is likely to pitch for the return of bowling coach Bharat Arun despite the presence of Zaheer Khan in their ranks.
Bowling coach Shastri’s choice was always Arun and it is now clear that the Advisory Committee of Cricket did not take Shastri in confidence, while Zaheer’s recommendation as a bowling coach, although his role would be similar to that of Rahul Dravid – – a consultant.
It has been learned that Zaheer is unlikely to give around 250 days a year that a full time bowler coach is required and may not be available for more than 100 days. It can also be mentioned that Zaheer’s wage package has not yet been signed as negotiations are still in progress.
Earlier, when Shastri was asked about his choice of bowling coach, Arun had said, but a particular member of the CAC was against it. Shastri said apparently, “Give me Jason Gillespie then.” Gillespie is widely recognized as the best bowling coach in the cricketing fraternity.
The shrewd cricket player he was, Shastri knew BCCI can not attack someone like Gillespie, who is already hired with Papua New Guinea. BCCI has also kept the name of Venkatesh Prasad on hold, but it is unlikely that Shastri will settle for anything less than Arun.
Prasad however can not be liked by the Indian team as a complaint against him during his previous tenure was turning fast players into the line and the length of the average fast players.
According to reliable sources at BCCI, Shastri is expected to meet with senior officials and the Committee of Administrators (COA) over the weekend as they are expected to cut their trip to the UK.
“Ravi has the highest respect for Zaheer, but believes that a full-time bowler is required. Let Zak create a roadmap for bowlers and it will be Arun who will apply.
Ravi is expected to speak to the COA on Saturday and make it clear he would like Arun to join the Sri Lanka touring team itself, “a reliable BCCI PTI source said on condition of anonymity.
Should Shastri be able to get Arun aboard, it will be a sweet revenge for him on his bete noire Sourav Ganguly, who had vehemently opposed his candidacy. Arun had replaced Joe Dawes in 2014 and was there with the Indian team until 2016 when Shastri was abandoned.
He did not have a distinguished playing career, but he has always been regarded as a great coach of the academy with a sound control over theories related to fast bowling.
Arun and Shastri go a long way from being friends since their U-19 days back in the early 80’s. It was at 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.
