BCCI sacks Team India coaches

NEW DELHI: Indian team's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh were on Thursday sacked by the BCCI, which did not give any reasons for the unceremonious dumping. (Watch Video)
"The BCCI has decided to discontinue the services of bowling coach Mr Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Mr Robin Singh with immediate effect," said a brief statement from Board secretary N Srinivasan.
Although the Board's decision to sack them came as a surprise, both Prasad and Singh were under the scanner after India's dismal show in the Twenty20 World Cup and last month's Champions Trophy.
Top Indian bowlers like Ishant Sharma and RP Singh have struggled for form for long spells with the latter being dropped from the ODI squad for the seven-match ODI series against Australia on Thursday.
Even a proven match-winner like off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was struggling in the Champions Trophy.
Despite being a top-notch fielder in his own playing days, Singh hasn't managed to raise the team's standard since taking over.
Barring exceptions like Yuvraj Singh, Indian players have been quite ordinary, inviting open criticism from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on several occasions.
Several former players have also questioned Prasad and Singh's contribution to the team's cause, saying the standard has remained as bad as it was before their appointment.
The duo was appointed after India's 2007 One-day World Cup debacle and didn't have any contract with the Board.
Prasad, a right-arm seamer who claimed 96 Test and 196 One-day wickets, said he had not been informed of his sudden removal.
"But if this is true, I am deeply disappointed and hurt," he said. "I have no doubt that I have done my job for the Indian team to the best of my abilities.
"I will try to contact the Indian board and find out what I did wrong that has led them to take this decision."
Singh, who scored 2,336 runs and claimed 69 wickets in 131 ODIs, had recently been appointed coach of Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League.