Date:28/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022855072000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Rajput’s innings will end after CB series

Mumbai: Lalchand Rajput will cease to be the assistant coach of the Indian team after the ongoing Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia. Once Gary Kirsten told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he would accept a position as coach for two years from March 2008, a stop-gap arrangement was made with Rajput being named assistant coach.

Kirsten worked with the team for three weeks in Australia from the third Test in Perth which India won.

The South African, who had a series of meetings with the BCCI officials and Anil Kumble here, will return to India on March 13 and begin with a two-day workshop, specifically for a one-on-one meeting with the players selected for the Test series against South Africa.

Rajput, who is on the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Board, was the Cricket Manager of the Indian team for the ICC World T20 championship in South Africa. He was then retained for the home ODI series against Australia and for the entire series against Pakistan.

“He (Rajput) was appointed assistant coach only for the series in Australia. He will not be part of the support staff. Venkatesh Prasad (bowling coach) and Robin Singh (fielding coach) have a contract running till May,” said a BCCI official. — Special Correspondent