The BCCI during its “informal meeting” here on Sunday, discussed measures to revamp pitches in the country.
“Our performance in the Test series in England was disappointing and we have the Test series in Australia and the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this season. We need to prepare our cricketers well for the challenges ahead,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said.
He said BCCI’s tie-up with the MRF Pace Foundation was a step in the right direction.
“Already our pace bowlers are benefiting from learning under the great Glenn McGrath.”
Dwelling on India’s support and coaching staff for the home series against the West Indies and the campaign in Australia, he said, “We are indebted to Ravi Shastri (appointed Director of the Indian team for the ODI series in England) for accepting our request.
“He did so in a spontaneous way.”
Non-committalMr. Patel was non-committal on an extension for Shastri but made it clear that the BCCI was willing to compensate the former India all-rounder for the loss of revenue by him not honouring his media commitments.
Asked whether India’s assistant coaches for the abbreviated form of cricket in England, Bharat Arun and Sanjay Bangar, and fielding coach R. Sridhar would continue to guide the team, Mr. Patel said a decision would be taken in the next three or four days. “We will first go through the reports of Shastri, the coaches, and the manager.”
On the future of India’s bowling and fielding coaches, Joe Dawes and Trevor Penny, who were asked by the Board to go on `leave’ after the disastrous Test series in England, Mr. Patel said, “I have asked both of them to submits their reports.”
Mr. Patel added Rajasthan would not be a part of domestic cricket unless its association decides to remove Lalit Modi as its president.
“They have to realise that Modi has been expelled from the BCCI.”
