MUMBAI: Former England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher was appointed to the high-pressure post of India coach Wednesday, less than one month after the country won the World Cup on home soil. India had been on the look-out to replace South African Gary Kirsten who stepped down from the role following his success in guiding the cricket-crazy nation to victory in the showpiece event. Fletcher, a former Zimbabwean all-rounder who came to prominence as a coach when reviving the England team over several years and helping it regain the Ashes in 2005, has been awarded a two-year contract. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan made the announcement in Mumbai, naming Fletcher over other possible choices including New Zealander Stephen Fleming and Zimbabwean Andy Flower. Fletcher, a taciturn 62-year-old, takes over one of the biggest jobs in cricket before India tour the West Indies in June followed by an important tour of England from July to September. “The contract with Fletcher is for two years. He may not join the team in the West Indies as he has some prior commitments,” Srinivasan told reporters after a BCCI meeting. India is currently ranked No. 1 in Test cricket, and No. 2 in One-Day Internationals. Fletcher, who played six ODIs for his country, was credited with turning around England's fortunes in Tests under captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan during his eight-year stint. Prize-money doubled India's cricket chiefs Wednesday doubled the cash bonus for each member of the World Cup winning team amid reports that the players had complained about being poorly rewarded. “The cash incentive to the members of the World Cup winning Indian team has been increased from 10 million rupees ($225,000) per player to 20 million rupees,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement. “A player's life is very uncertain. Who knows what will happen next?” one anonymous player told the Indian Express last week.
