Sanjay Bangar appointed as India's head coach for Zimbabwe tour by BCCI

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Sanjay Bangar as India's head coach for the team's tour to Zimbabwe.

Bangar, a former India and Railways all-rounder, had worked as an assistant coach under former team director Ravi Shastri. He will be joined by Abhay Sharma as India's fielding coach for the tour. His has worked with the India Under-19 and A teams.

Alert: @ImSanjayBangar appointed head coach, Abhay Sharma named fielding coach for India's tour of Zimbabwe #ZimvInd pic.twitter.com/JtzhSbj6tp

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 26, 2016

BCCI had entrusted the task of finding India's new coach to the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising former India players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Surprisingly, Ganguly said last Sunday that it will take another couple of months to find a suitable candidate for the high-profile position.

And many expected that the team will be without a full-time coach during the Zimbabwe tour, which begins June 11.

"Mr. Sanjay Bangar has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming tour to Zimbabwe, which commences on the 8th of June comprising 3 One-Day International matches and 3 T20 International matches to be played in Harare," BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement.

But, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar's names did not figure in the support staff for the upcoming tour.

Arun was employed for a while as the senior team's bowling coach. Abhay will replace Sridhar as the fielding coach. He has been working as the India U-19 fielding coach under Rahul Dravid.

The board statement further read, "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Mr. Koka Ramesh, a former cricketer and Zonal Secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association, as the Administrative Manager of the Indian team for the tour to Zimbabwe."

India play three T20s and three ODIs in Zimbabwe. The selectors had named a largely inexperienced squad for the tour, which will be led by MS Dhoni.

Post the short tour of Zimbabwe, India travel to the West Indies for a four-match Test series in July-August.