"I write this more in anger than thoughtful calmness. Without mincing words and getting right to the heart of the matter, I must say that Ravi Shastri has been rewarded for totally aligning himself with the cricket establishment of the country.

"This appointment, with a fancy-sounding designation of director of cricket and overriding powers for a limited tenure of five one-day internationals, is a bizarre act by an Indian Board which is responsible for bringing Indian Test cricket to such a sorry state."

Author and senior sports journalist Pradeep Magazine vents his spleen on Ravi Shastri's appointment. Read