VVS Laxman will have a role to play in India's U-19 World Cup journey

Former Indian batter VVS Laxman will join the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as the head of cricket on December 13. His appointment, along with that of other coaches, was finalized during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday.

Alongside Laxman, the appointment of former Australia and England bowling coach Troy Cooley as the pace bowling coach of the National Cricket Academy was also finalized during the meeting in Kolkata. Notably, former Indian captain Rahul Dravid headed NCA before. However, the crucial position has been vacant after the legendary cricketer was appointed the head coach of the national team.

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The contract of VVS Laxman has already signed : BCCI Official

Nevertheless, Laxman looks all set to step into the shoes of his former teammate. "Laxman's contract has been signed already. His last media assignment is the second Test between New Zealand and India. He will be joining Bengaluru from December 13. "He is also for a certain period be in the West Indies for the U-19 ICC World Cup," a senior BCCI office-bearer was quoted as saying by India TV.

The BCCI official even revealed that either Hrishikesh Kanitkar or Sitanshu Kotak will don the head coach's hat for the U-19 global event. They are currently NCA coaches at the moment. " We have also finalized all the NCA coaching appointments and it has been minuted," he added further.

Meanwhile, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah have been invited by CSA for the 'Annual Nelson Mandela Dinner,'. The Annual Nelson Mandela Dinner will be held on January 2. However, it remains to be seen whether the duo will travel to the Rainbow Nation following the emergence of the Omicron variant that has caused a spike in COVID-19 cases in African nations.

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Coming to Team India's assignments, the national team is set to tour South Africa for their next international assignment. While three Tests, as many ODIs, and four T20Is were slated to take place initially. However, the T20I leg has been postponed following a discussion between BCCI and Cricket South Africa on Saturday.