Duncan Fletcher

In keeping with the no-frills coach they desire, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced Duncan Fletcher as the man who would take over from Gary Kirsten, without much ado. The former Zimbabwe captain and ex-England coach was given a contract for two years.

Fletcher’s name was approved at the BCCI Working Committee meeting here. Only current president Shashank Manohar and president-elect and secretary N Srinivasan seemed to have known about the choice.

Sources say while the BCCI was keen on hiring current England coach Andy Flower, he was reluctant. Another contender, former New Zealand captain and current Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, couldn’t make the grade as he lacked enough international experience.

Fletcher comes with great credentials to fill Kirsten’s big boots, having shepherded England to their Ashes win against Australia in 2005, the first time England won the tournament since 1986-87.

Bipasha Basu to land Taj with Josh Hartnett

If there was any more proof required for ardent fans of Bollywood’s hot jodi John Abraham-Bipasha Basu to believe that it’s ‘over’ between the two, then this might just be it.

Apparently the Bong beauty has been planning to whisk away her Singularity co-star Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett —with whom she is currently shooting in Occhra in Madhya Pradesh for the Roland Joffe flick — on a romantic rendezvous to the Taj Mahal in Agra soon after they wrap up the shoot on the 23rd of this month.

According to insiders, what’s adding to the hot temperature there is the sizzling chemistry that the actress shares with her firang friend. An insider reveals, “The two get along like a house on fire and spend hours talking even after the shoot.” When asked about the planned trip, Bipasha confirms it too. “Yes, Josh was very keen to visit the Taj Mahal and I haven’t been there myself since I was three, so we’re planning to take a trip there if time permits.” Both Bips and Josh are incidentally on very tight schedules.

Soon after the film wraps up, Basu will be heading to Russia for her next schedule of Players, while Hartnett will be heading to London to finish another schedule of Singularity. “Yes, it’s going to be rather hectic, but we’re trying our best,” she adds. As for the romantic inkling between the two, Basu laughs it off. “Oh come one. I would have visited Agra with any of my friends. What’s the big deal? As for Josh, yes, he’s a great co-star and we do share a comfortable rapport,” she smiles.