Ravi Shastri appointed Indian cricket team's new head coach

Mumbai [India], July 11 (ANI): Former Indian all-rounder and team director Ravi Shastri has been appointed as the new head coach of the country's cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed here on Tuesday. The 55-year-old was among ten applicants who applied for the position earlier this month. He was interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising of former cricketers Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman, on Monday after being included in the shortlist of six names. Besides Shastri, Virendra Sehwag, Lalchand Rajput, Richard Pybus, Ravi Shastri and Tom Moody were interviewed by the CAC. Shastri was also the director of the Indian team between 2014 and 2016 during which time he led the Men in Blue to the semi-finals of the World Cup and 2015 World T20. Shastri had also applied for the job in 2016, but legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble was chosen over him by Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). The head coach position has been vacant since Anil Kumble's resignation following India's 180-run defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final at the Oval on June 18.(ANI)