Robin Singh is back, for now

Robin Singh has been included in the team though the Cricket Board officials had on Tuesday confirmed that he will not figure in the list, reports A Karhadkar.

Strange are the ways of Indian cricket. On Tuesday, cricket board officials had confirmed that fielding coach Robin Singh was not going to be a part of the support staff for the forthcoming home Test series against South Africa.

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On Wednesday, however, Robin was named as a part of the team support staff for the series.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah announced that Robin will be one of the seven support staff members, including new coach Gary Kirsten, for the South Africa series.

It was learnt earlier that Kirsten felt that a fielding coach was not required for the South Africa Test series. The main reason Kirsten gave, according to a source, was that there wasn't much time for the fielding coach to work on players between back-to-back Tests. However, as BCCI top brass mulled over the issue on Wednesday, they felt it would be "unjust" on Robin since both he and Venkatesh Prasad, who were hired after India's early exit from the World Cup last year, were issued appointment letters till May 31 this year.

It remains to be seen what fate has in store for Robin, who has contributed in upping the overall standards of Indian fielding.

Meanwhile, mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton, who was recommended by Kirsten, has been hired as "physical and mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach". The BCCI also formally announced the appointment of Paul Close, who has been hired as the physiotherapist for the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, as the physiotherapist for three-Test the series.

Shah, however, made it clear that a full-time physio will be appointed "by the end of April".