Internet Desk: A day after becoming the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri wants Bharath Arun as the bowling coach of the team despite the presence of Zaheer Khan as a bowling consultant for the overseas tour.
Arun was always the first choice of Shastri as the bowling coach. But the Cricket Advisory Committee didn’t take Shastri’s opinion while recommending Zaheer as the bowling coach. Though Zaheer’s role would be similar to Rahul Dravid – that of a consultant in overseas tour.
According to the sources Zaheer will only be available for 250 days a year and for that a full-time bowling coach would be required for team as he will not be available for more than 100 days. On the other hand Zaheer Khan’s salary package has not been finalized yet as the negotiations are still going on.
Earlier, when Shastri was asked about his choice of bowling coach, he had said Arun but one particular member of CAC was against it.
Shastri then apparently said that: “Give me Jason Gillespie then.” Gillespie is widely acknowledged as the best bowling coach in the cricketing fraternity.
The wily cricketer that he was, Shastri knew that BCCI can’t rope in someone like Gillespie, who is already contracted with Papua New Guinea.
The BCCI has also kept Venkatesh Prasad’s name on stand by but it is unlikely Shastri will settle for anything less than Arun.
Arun had replaced Joe Dawes in 2014 and was there with the Indian team till 2016 when Shastri was dumped.
He didn’t have a distinguished playing career but has always been regarded as a great academy coach with a sound grip on the theories related to fast bowling.
While talking to www.xtratime.in correspondent Sabyasachi Bagchi India’s former bowling coach Bharat Arun said,” I am always ready to work with the Indian cricket team. If the BCCI wants me as the bowling coach I will be glad to join the squad again. I haven’t received any offers as of now.”
According to reliable sources in the BCCI, Ravi is expected to meet the top officials and the Committee of Administrators (COA) during the weekend as he is expected to cut short his trip to United Kingdom.
“Ravi has highest regards for Zaheer but he believes that a full-time bowling coach is required. Let Zak create a roadmap for bowlers and it will be Arun who will implement it. Ravi is expected to speak to COA on Saturday and make it clear that he would like Arun to join the team from Sri Lanka tour itself,” a reliable BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.