Team India finally have a new coach in Kirsten

New Delhi, Dec 5: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today named former South African opener Gary Kirsten as the new coach of Team India for a period of two years.

''Kirsten has been appointed as the coach of the Indian team for a period of two years starting from March 1, 2008,'' BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a release.

He will formally take over the charge from March next year and has been handed a tenure of two years. However, Kirsten will visit Bangalore during the final Test against Pakistan to spend a couple of days with the team.

''Kirsten will be spending a couple of days with the Indian team at Bangalore during the third Test match,'' the release said.

The 40-year-old will also be with the Indian team in Australia as a consultant for a couple of weeks, probably after the second Test match.

''Kirsten will be with the Indian team in Australia as a consultant for a couple of weeks probably after the second Test match,'' the release added.

Kirsten will take over as India's coach almost a year after Australian Greg Chappell stepped down following a disastrous performance in the Caribbean World Cup.

Meanwhile, confirming the appointment, Kirsten said in Johannesburg that he has agreed to be the coach of Indian cricket team from March one next year.

He also added that he will be going with the Indian team to its tour of Australia starting later this month as a consultant.

UNI