Indian cricket team's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh were on Thursday sacked by the BCCI,which did not give any reasons for the unceremonious dumping. "The BCCI has decided to discontinue the services of Bowling Coach Mr Venkatesh Prasad and Fielding Coach Mr Robin Singh with immediate effect," said a brief statement from Board secretary N Srinivasan. Although the Board's decision to sack them came as a surprise,both Prasad and Singh were under the scanner after India's dismal show in the Twenty20 World Cup and last month's Champions Trophy. Top Indian bowlers like Ishant Sharma and R P Singh have struggled for form for long spells with the latter being dropped from the ODI squad for the seven-match ODI series against Australia today. Even a proven match-winner like off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was struggling in the Champions Trophy. Despite being a top-notch fielder in his own playing days,Singh hasn't managed to raise the team's standard since taking over. Barring exceptions like Yuvraj Singh,Indian players have Mahendra Singh Dhoni on several occasions. Several former players have also questioned Prasad and Singh's contribution to the team's cause,saying the standard has remained as bad as it was before their appointment. The duo was appointed after India's 2007 one-day World Cup debacle and didn't have any contract with the Board.
