Sports / Cricket
Zimbabwean gets Indian coaching job
27 Apr 2011 at 06:57hrs | Views
NEW DELHI: Former Zimbabwe captain and England coach, Duncan Fletcher was on Wednesday named Team India coach after the BCCI meeting in Mumbai. He would take over the team's top job from the upcoming West Indies tour in June.
The decision to appoint Fletcher, whose name was doing the rounds as a possible successor to Kirsten, was taken at the BCCI`s working committee meeting. The announcement came as a surprise as the BCCI had given no indication that it would name the coach today.
"The contract with Fletcher is for two years. He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments," BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan told reporters after the meeting.
The 62-year-old Fletcher, who has signed on for two years, replaces South African Gary Kirsten, who turned down an extension to his three-year contract after the World Cup.
Fletcher, who captained Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup and played just six one-dayers during the African nation's pre-Test days, had previously had a successful coaching stint with the England national team and has also worked as a consultant with South Africa.
Fletcher has played six ODIs for Zimbabwe. Fletcher led England to 2005 Ashes victory, his most prized achievement to date. He was England coach from 1999 to 2007 and made the English team into a competitive outfit.
India had also reportedly approached current England team director Andy Flower and Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming for the job. However, both men turned down the offer.
Fletcher was born on 27 September 1948 in Harare Zimbabwe.
The decision to appoint Fletcher, whose name was doing the rounds as a possible successor to Kirsten, was taken at the BCCI`s working committee meeting. The announcement came as a surprise as the BCCI had given no indication that it would name the coach today.
"The contract with Fletcher is for two years. He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments," BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan told reporters after the meeting.
The 62-year-old Fletcher, who has signed on for two years, replaces South African Gary Kirsten, who turned down an extension to his three-year contract after the World Cup.
Fletcher, who captained Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup and played just six one-dayers during the African nation's pre-Test days, had previously had a successful coaching stint with the England national team and has also worked as a consultant with South Africa.
Fletcher has played six ODIs for Zimbabwe. Fletcher led England to 2005 Ashes victory, his most prized achievement to date. He was England coach from 1999 to 2007 and made the English team into a competitive outfit.
India had also reportedly approached current England team director Andy Flower and Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming for the job. However, both men turned down the offer.
Fletcher was born on 27 September 1948 in Harare Zimbabwe.
Source - Byo24News
