Chandu Borde appointed Manager of Team India

New Delhi, June 12: Former captain Chandu Borde was today appointed the Cricket Manager of the Indian team for the twin tours of Ireland and England by the BCCI Working Committee here. The decision was taken by the Committee which met here to discuss South African Graham Ford's turning down the offer to become the India coach, among other issues.

''As in the case of Bangladesh Tour, we are sending a former selection committee chairman Mr Chandu Borde as Cricket Manager for the upcoming Ireland and the England tours,'' BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan said.

BCCI president Sharad Pawar proposed Borde's name and no other name was discussed.

The Board also decided to extend the services of bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh for one more year.

''He will be assisted by bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh. The Board has decided to extend their contracts by one year,'' Srinivasan said.

Meanwhile it was decided that the 7-member selection Committee headed by Mr Sharad Pawar will decide the next coach after the Tour of England.

The other members of the Committee are former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, S Venkataraghvan, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, Jt Secretary M P Pandove and Treasurer N Srnivasan.

Seventy-two-year-old Chandrakant Gulabrao Borde, a leg-spinner all-rounder, played in 55 Tests and scored 3061 runs and took 52 wickets.

Borde was in-charge of the Indian cricket team on the historic 1988-89 tour of Pakistan.

He was twice chief national selector, first during 1982-84 and then at the turn of the millennium.

India are to play three ODIs against South Africa in Ireland between June 26 and July 1.

The team then clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at Glasgow, Scotland, on July 3 before moving to England for a three Tests and seven ODIs series.

UNI