Duncan Fletcher's contract asIndia's cricket coach was today extended by one more yeardespite a below-par track record, setting to rest the intensespeculation on his future.
The decision to renew the 64-year-old Fletcher'scontract, which was due to end at the end of this month, wastaken by the BCCI's Working Committee which met here today.
"The working committee decided to extend Fletcher'scontract by one year. Since he has been with the team for twoyears, we don't want to take a knee-jerk reaction consideringthe next big Test series is in South Africa. It will be riskyand unfair on a new coach to give him charge in South Africaand expect good results from him," a senior BCCI membertold PTI.
Speculation were rife about Fletcher's future after hehad lost 10 Test matches including a home series againstEngland recently apart from 'whitewashes' in England andAustralia.
Under Fletcher, India had lost 10 out of the 22 Testmatches before the ongoing match in Mohali having won onlyeight. The only away Test win was against West Indies nearlytwo years back just when Fletcher had taken charge.
In the 44 ODI matches played by India post their WorldCup triumph, the 'Men in Blue' have won 25 matches losing 16.
There were two tied matches and one match did not yield anyresult.
In T20s, India won nine of the 17 matches losing theother eight.
India have not qualified for the Asia Cup final and alsocouldn't make it to the last four in the ICC World T20.
Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar questioned Fletcher'sextension but said he should get the backing since he has nowbeen re-appointed.
"I wonder whether an Indian coach would have survivedafter 10 Test defeats," Gavaskar quipped.
Incidentally, Fletcher was roped in on recommendations ofhighly successful former India coach Gary Kirsten.
The Indian players have had high regards for him as aperson with a great technical acumen but as far as strategy isconcerned, he has been more of a backroom character.