RCB appoint Andy Flower as head coach; part ways with Hesson, Bangar
Bengaluru (PTI): Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday appointed vastly experienced Andy Flower as their head coach, officially ending the term of Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar.
The contracts of both Hesson, director of cricket operations, and Bangar, the head coach, were up for renewal in September but the franchise decided to move on from the duo.
Rajesh Menon, vice-president and head of RCB, met Flower in London for discussions before drafting him in.
Flower said he was looking forward to take the RCB to newer heights in the IPL 2024.
"I am really proud to be joining RCB. I recognise the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect, and I look forward to the challenge of taking RCB to new heights," said Flower, who coached Lucknow Supergiants in the last two seasons of the IPL.
Flower has extensive experience in the IPL, having worked with LSG and Punjab Kings prior to that.
The former Zimbabwe batsman said he is looking forward to working with RCB players, particularly with captain Faf du Plessis.
"I'm particularly excited to be reunited with Faf. We have worked very well together in the past and I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better.
"We have an exciting roster of players to work with, and I recognise and will relish both the amazing opportunity with RCB but also the responsibility that comes with the role. It is a great challenge, and I can't wait to get started," said Flower.
Commenting on the decision to appoint Flower as the head coach, Prathmesh Mishra, chairman of RCB, said: "We would like to thank Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar for their excellent work in the past four seasons culminating in three play-offs. Their professionalism and work ethics have always been held in high regard."
Confirming their exit, both Hesson and Bangar thanked the franchise for giving them an opportunity to work with them and termed their tenure as a rewarding experience.
RCB is yet to make an announcement regarding the coaching staff of their team in the Women's Premier League. Ben Sawyer is the head coach of the team, and his contract too is under review as part of an internal review.
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Niqab incident: Nitish Kumar perhaps revealing his true colours, says J-K CM
Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised his Bihar counterpart over the niqab incident and said that Nitish Kumar might be slowly revealing his true nature.
"Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular leader, may be slowly showing his true colours," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Abdullah said Kumar removing the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor was wrong and cannot be justified by any means.
"We have seen this kind of incident here several years ago. Have you forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station? That act was wrong, and this act (of Kumar) is also wrong.
"If the (Bihar) chief minister did not want to hand over the order to her (Muslim woman), they could have kept her aside. However, to humiliate her like this is totally wrong," the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
Kumar stirred a huge controversy after he removed the face veil of a Muslim woman at a function earlier this week.
