After surrendering the last three Test matches against England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to revamp India's management by appointing Ravi Shastri as the team's director for the forthcoming ODI series.
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, in a statement, informed that Shastri will take care of overall cricket affairs of India in the five-match ODI series against England, starting 25 August in Bristol.
BCCI have also decided to retain Duncan Fletcher as the coach, but bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penny have been given a break for the limited-overs series.
Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and pacer Bharat Arun will join the Indian team as assistant coaches, while R. Sridhar will take over as the fielding coach.
"In culmination of the discussions among all the office bearers of BCCI over the last couple of weeks, the BCCI has decided to avail the services of former India captain, Ravi Shastri, to oversee and guide the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming one day international matches against England," the statement read.
"Mr. Duncan Fletcher will continue as Head Coach while Ravi Shastri will be the overall in-charge of cricket affairs of the Indian Team."
Fletcher came under sharp criticism after India's humiliating defeat in the recently concluded five-match Test series. India, after winning the second Test at Lord's, surrendered the last three matches in Manchester, Southampton and the Oval to lose the series 3-1.
Former Indian cricketers have demanded that Fletcher be sacked, calling his contribution a 'big zero', as the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led squad crumbled to yet another defeat on foreign soil.
"Fletcher has not contributed anything for the team." former batsman Chandu Borde said. "I am surprised these youngsters did not change their technique which a player like [Alastair] Cook did after England's defeat at Lord's by standing a few feet outside the crease to counter Bhuvneshwar Kumar's swing bowling."
Former player Anshuman Gaekwad also criticised Fletcher, saying that there is no point of having him as a coach, when he has failed in improving the performance of the squad.
"I've been a coach in the past and a coach must look into this and rectify it," Gaekwad said. "I don't know what's wrong. If the coach is telling them it's not working, then probably the boys are not listening. If that is the case, then what's the point of having a coach there?"
Former skipper Ajit Wadekar pointed out that the 65-year-old lacks imagination because of which India surrendered a 1-0 advantage in the series.
"What was Fletcher doing after we won the Lord's Test on a difficult pitch? This is where he lacked imagination in keeping the lead," Wadekar said. "Yes, I think Fletcher has to go."
