VVS Laxman wants current support staff till 2015 World Cup

New Delhi: Legendary Indian batsman, VVS Laxman has endorsed Ravi Shastri and the support staff to stay, at least till next year's World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Shastri as the team director following the 3-1 drubbing in the Test series in England.

Besides Shastri, BCCI also brought in former India pacer Bharat Arun, ex-India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar to help Indian team. Bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney were sent on leave for the series for an undisclosed period.

Talking to cricket portal ESPNcricinfo, Laxman said, “I have worked with Ravi Shastri in 2007 when we toured Bangladesh and he is a very positive person, immense knowledge of the game, he was himself a great leader for Mumbai and he captained India in one Test that India won convincingly. ”

“I am glad Bharat Arun and R Sridhar got their opportunity to coach at the highest level because they have a good track record at the India A and Under-19 level, and Sanjay Bangar because of his recent success with Kings XI Punjab,” he added.

The immediate results of Shastri's appointment to oversee all aspects of India's limited-overs campaign against England have been positive, with MS Dhoni & Co winning the ODI series 3-1 series after the Test debacle.

With months away to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Laxman also advised Indian board not to play with the support staff. The Hyderabadi opined, “I am hoping the BCCI will stick to the support staff we had for the one-dayers till the World Cup. The tournament is only six months away so there isn’t enough time to chop and change.”