Bhaskar retained as Delhi coach, Prabhakar named bowling mentor

Prabhakar, who had coached Uttar Pradesh last season and had assisted Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq in shaping Afghanistan the season before, returns to serve Delhi after a stint in 2011.

Earlier this year, Bhaskar was reportedly targeted with personal insults as Gambhir used foul and threatening language.

K. P. Bhaskar was on Monday retained as the senior Delhi coach for the forthcoming season. Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar joins Bhaskar in the dressing room to lend his coaching experience.

READ: Gambhir lights into Bhaskar

Atul Wassan and Robin Singh (Jr) have been retained as senior selectors while veteran Hari Gidwani replaces Nikhil Chopra, who did not wish to continue.

Prabhakar, who had coached Uttar Pradesh last season and had assisted Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq in shaping Afghanistan the season before, returns to serve Delhi after a stint in 2011.

“I look forward to the assignment. Delhi has lot of potential and hope the team brings back the old glory,” said Prabhakar.

The under-19 selection panel has been revamped from the previous one,  which comprised Maninder Singh, Chetnya Nanda and Ashu Dani. Maninder chose not to apply again while Nanda opted to accept a BCCI job.

In a welcome move, the Cricket Advisory Committee – Madan Lal (chairman), Sunil Valson, Saba Karim, Amita Sharma and G. S. Vivek – has handed the junior selection to former left-arm spinner Sukhvinder Singh and former India batsman Gursharan Singh.

India captain Virat Kohli’s coach Rajkumar Sharma has been entrusted the responsibility in the under-23 section while Rajeev Vinaik and V. Arvind keep their places as under-19 coaches for having done a fine job last season when the team finished runner-up.

Among the notable applicants for various jobs this time were Ian Pont, Sunil Joshi, Ashok Malhotra and Vijay Dahiya for the post of senior coach but the committee decided to give Bhaskar one more opportunity.

Gursharan, who has been involved with Delhi junior cricket since 2000, said, “I have accepted this responsibility because I want to serve Delhi cricket in whatever capacity I am deemed fit by my seniors.”

Selectors:

Senior: Atul Wassan (Chairman), Hari Gidwani, Robin Singh (Jr.).

Junior: Sukhvinder Singh (Chairman), Gursharan Singh, Amit Bhandari.

Coaches:

Senior: K. P. Bhaskar, Manoj Prabhakar,

Under 23: Rajkumar Sharma.

Under-19: Rajeev Vinaik, V. Arvind.

Under 16: Bantu Singh.

Under-14: Hitesh Sharma.

Managers:

Senior: Shankar Saini.

Under-23: Vivek Khurana.

Under-19: Chetan Sharma.

Under-16: Arun Singh.

Under-14: Sandeep Joshi.