MUMBAI: After requests for a permanent media manager by coach Greg Chappell and star cricketer SachinTendulkar, the BCCI has finally gone ahead and appointed wing commander Baladitya for the job.

While Baladitya was picked for the job a few weeks ago, the formal announcement was made only on 20 October by BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla who is also the chairman of the co-ordination and communication committee of the Board.

Baladitya had been the team coordinator when Pakistan had toured India in March-April 2005. He would now be attached to the co-ordination and communication committee.

Baladitya replaces Amrit Mathur, who was the director of the BCCI's communication and communication committee (CCC), though his post was loosely called media manager. Mathur is going to leave the BCCI since he is now a part of the organizing committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Baladitya's job would be different from Mathur's in the sense that he would be travelling full-time with the team, something that the latter was unable to do because of his job compulsion with the Railways.

Currently, Baladitya has been appointed for two home series - the seven match ODI series against Sri Lanka beginning on 25 October, and the five-match ODI series against South Africa in November.