NEW DELHI (TIP): Sanjay Bangar, former India all-rounder, has been appointed as India’s head coach for the Zimbabwe series, the Board of Cricket for Cricket in India announced on Thursday (May 26). Bangar has previously worked with the national team as one of the assistant coaches and is currently the head coach of Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab. The BCCI have also named Abhay Sharma as the fielding coach. Abhay was previously India A and Under-19’s fielding and wicket-keeping coach.

“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,” the BCCI said in a statement.

“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.”

“Mr. Abhay Sharma has been appointed as the fielding coach of the team.”

The BCCI has been looking to appoint a full-time head coach for the national team after team director Ravi Shastri’s tenure came to an end following the World T20. Bangar (batting), B Arun (fielding) and R Sridhar (fielding) were part of the coaching staff along with Shastri. Newly elected BCCI president Anurag Thakur recently revealed that the process to appoint the next head coach would take around two months and also went on to mention that they had set June 10 as the deadline day for applications to be submitted for the same.

MS Dhoni will be leading the side in Zimbabwe but the selectors have rested several key players ahead of the Test tour to West Indies.