Former India wicket-keeper batsman Vijay Yadav has been named as the fielding coach of India A for the tour to South Africa. The news of his appointment was delivered to the former Haryana player in the eleventh hour,

“Yes, it’s just a couple of hours back that I was told about my appointment as the fielding coach of the India A team. The squad is leaving the day after tomorrow (July 22nd) but I may have to join a couple of days late. I am now rushing to Mumbai and my paperwork and visa formalities will be completed there,” Yadav told PTI on Thursday.

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The opportunity has come to him after Abhay Sharma, the former India and now the India A fielding coach, has travelled to England with the Under 19 team. There was no one in the ranks and hence, Yadav was handed the opportunity for the tour.

A veteran of 89 first-class games, Yadav made his international debut against South Africa in an ODI in the year 1992. He went onto play 18 more ODIs in next two years. He also played one Test match which came against Zimbabwe in 1993 in Delhi, the same game where Vinod Kambli played an innings of 227 off 301. India won the game by an innings and 13 runs but Yadav never played a Test match for India again.

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India A is all set to fly to South Africa tomorrow under the guidance of Rahul Dravid. Paras Mhambrey will also travel with the team in the capacity of the bowling coach. The tour comprises of a tri-series with South Africa A and Afghanistan A as the two other teams. Two unofficial Test matches against the hosts will follow.

Manish Pandey will lead the limited overs side whereas Karun Nair has been handed the job to the Test side. Nair, Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur are the three men who are there in both the squads.

Recently, selectors had to announce a replacement for Abhinav Mukund in the squad for unofficial Test series as he was selected in the Indian team for the tour to Sri Lanka and hence, R Samarth was added to the team.