JAK, MAK out; Shashi is State team's chief coach

The Karnataka State Cricket Association on Wednesday appointed former Karnataka cricketers P V Shashikanth and G K Anil Kumar as the coaches of the senior state cricket team, bringing to an end a successful reign of J Arun Kumar and Mansoor Ali Khan.

Shashikanth has been named the head coach while Anil will serve as his assisstant. The duo has been given a one-year term.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Shashikanth. “It’s the same feeling that I got when I was appointed the captain of the team. It’s a great honour and privilege. It’s fantastic to be back leading the team in a different way.”

 Shashikanth said his goal would be to get the team back to its glory days. “We have an extremely talented bunch. A lot will be expected from us and our goal is to work hard and regain the glory days. I will try to make a difference.”

Arun and Mansoor, called JAK and MAK affectionately, were apppointed batting and bowling coaches respectively in 2012 soon after the Anil Kumble-led group swept the KSCA elections.

The duo led the State to some unprecedented success, winning a historic treble (Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy) in the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 seasons.

This success led to several players like K L Rahul, Karun Nair and Manish Pandey earning India call-ups.

However, the Karnataka team has come up short in the last couple of seasons, failing to qualify for the knock-outs in 2015-16 and then crashing out in the quarterfinals last year.

Wishing the new coaches, Arun said: "It's been a good five years. I suppose they had to find a replacement. In all fairness, given the winless two years we've had, someone else had to get a chance. It's left to others to take Karnataka cricket to great heights. I feel we left it on autopilot. It should be easy for whoever takes over. A lot of the guys went on to play for the country like Rahul (KL), Manish (Pandey), and Karun (Nair), which is also pleasing. I'm still interested in coaching a state team. It's either that or maybe I can keep on being a T20 coach," said Arun Kumar.