Jyoti Bajpai named manager of Indian World Cup team

The joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jyoti Bajpai has been named the manager of the Indian World Cup team that will leave for South Africa on January 29. Also accompanying the 15-member squad led by Sourav Ganguly will be coach John Wright, physiotherapist Andrew Leipus and trainer Adrian Le Roux.

Talking to India Abroad News Service in Kolkata, Ganguly said that the think-tank will finalise their battle plans during the 12 days that the squad gets to spend in South Africa ahead of their first match against Holland.

"I haven't spoken to the boys yet or chalked out any strategy. We can do that in South Africa," the skipper said. He added that the dismal series in New Zealand was now behind his team and that "we are going to South Africa with a positive frame of mind".

Asked about his own batting form, Ganguly said that he had few worries. "Most of us played badly. It's not just my game. But, I'm not particularly worried about my batting," he observed.

In a related development, Ganguly has been provided with an increased security cover after a fresh threat from the Pakistan based extremist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba.