Ravi Shastri is Players' Favourite And so he is at The Helm, Says Rajeev Shukla

Senior BCCI functionary Rajeev Shukla on Thursday said that the board's decision to give team director Ravi Shastri an extension until the  2016 WorldT20 was based on his good performance and rapport with the players. (Ravi Shastri's term extended till 2016 World T20)

While he did not give any direct answer whether Shastri will get a longer tenure post World T20 next year, Shukla said that the former India all-rounder is also doubling up as the chief coach, a place left vacant by Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher. With Shastri at the helm India earned their first Test series win in Sri Lanka last month, and now he will be guiding the team in tough South Africa series. (Ravi Shastri wants Ishant Sharma to be aggressive)

"Basically, the coaching job is done by Ravi Shastri and he has been asked to continue till the World T20. Shastri has been entrusted with the job and the players are also happy with him. I think he is doing a very good job and he can continue," IPL chairman Shukla told mediapersons on the sidelines of the HIL auctions.

"If anything needs to be done, the advisory committee comprising Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman will be taking a decision on what exactly should be done."

Shukla also said that the proposed bilateral series between India and Pakistan in UAE in December is lying in uncertainty although BCCI is committed to resuming cricket ties between the two neighbouring nations.

"Right now, I can't say anything. There are some issues and these issues have to be sorted out. Once these issues are sorted out then only we can think about it. Our policy is that bilateral matches should be played in each other's soil. Still that's our focus. For these, we need to take the permission of the government also because the security issue is also there," he said.

Shukla also said that just like any big event there were bound to be controversies associated with IPL but the BCCI is taking all possible measures to make it clean and corruption free.

"When you start something controversies and allegations are bound to be there. IPL is a big event. People watch IPL all over the world as it is being telecast in 152 countries. So there is bound to be some issues. But the question is if there are issues or allegations, how quickly corrective steps are taken and how tough steps are taken. That is important. We at BCCI are taking strict action if such cases are brought to light," the Congressman said.

"We can't look at what a person is doing in his room, what a person is doing in the confines of his house. We can't keep surveillance on people."