Venkatesh Prasad quits chief Junior selector's post to join Kings XI Punjab?

Venkatesh Prasad

Venkatesh Prasad, the former India pace bowler and bowling coach, resigned as chairman of the junior national selection committee yesterday, citing personal reasons. He was the chief selector who picked the India squad for the recently-concluded ICC under-19 World Cup in New Zealand where the Prithvi Shaw-led team emerged winners. It is learnt that Prasad will be joining Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab as bowling coach.

Viru's team
Former India opener Virender Sehwag is mentor of KXIP, who will be led by India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Former Australian batsman Brad Hodge is the batting coach of the franchise while Delhi batsman Mithun Manhas is assistant coach. Though Prasad's pay packet at KXIP is not known, it is learnt that it will definitely be more than the Rs.40 lakh per year he received from the BCCI as chief junior selector.

PTI reported yesterday that Prasad does not want to be named in any conflict of interest issues."It's still not clear, but there are chances that he might be joining an IPL franchise and that's why he wanted to avoid a potential conflict of interest," a senior BCCI official told PTI.

'Fine talent-spotter'
Meanwhile, acting BCCI president CK Khanna was quoted as saying, "I tried to convince him but it seems he has made up his mind. He has been one of the finest talent-spotters and deserves due credit in selecting a world champion junior team."

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