Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has insisted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should give Ravi Shastri a long-term role with the national squad.
Shastri, who was seeing the over-all cricket related affairs of Team India in the limited-over series against India, played an instrumental role in India’s ODI series win over England and there were voices that he might continue with the men in blue.
The former skipper always maintained that he is with the team for the limited-overs series only but there were reports that Shastri is negotiating a contract with the BCCI.
“Ravi has done extremely well,” Engineer said. “He has motivated the boys, he is a dynamic character. In fact, he should oversee all cricket. Not only one-day cricket, he should oversee Test cricket as well.”
Engineer, who represented India in 46 Test matches, also suggested the name of former cricketer and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar to join the Indian team.
The former wicketkeeper pointed out that both Shastri and Vengsarkar know Indian cricket inside-out and they are ideal candidates to turn Team India’s fortunes in the whites.
“I think along with Ravi, you should have someone like Dilip Vengsarkar,” Engineer said. “They have both played cricket together. They both know the game inside out. These two…can turn the fortunes of Indian cricket.”
“I would say Dilip Vengsarkar would be the prime candidate because he has done it at all levels,” he added. “He has got his own academies. And for me he is the prime person to be inducted into Indian cricket for coaching or management.”
