Anurag Thakur named India manager for Champions Trophy

Anurag Thakur, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HCA) president, has been appointed Indian team manager for the Champions Trophy in South Africa, starting next week.

Thakur had been manager of the Indian Under-19 side during the World Cup in 2001-02, held in New Zealand. In 2000, he had become the youngest person to become HCA president.

He was involved in a bitter legal dispute with a group backed by former BCCI president Sharad Pawar for control of the HCA in 2005-06 , leading to the farcical situation of two Himachal Pradesh teams turning up for a Ranji Trophy match against Tripura.