United Arab Emirates Board has announced Lalchand Rajput as head coach of the UAE men’s team for three years starting from 21st February 2024. He will take the role this week as UAE will host Canada and Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup league tri-series. The tournament starts on February 28th with UAE taking on Canada in Dubai. His first assignment will see UAE take on Scotland in three three-match series in Dubai.
“I want to thank the Emirates Cricket Board for appointing me for this exciting role. UAE has emerged as one of the stronger Associate Members in recent years and the players have put in some good performances in both ODIs and T20Is. The current batch is exceptionally talented, and I look forward to working with them and further harnessing their cricket skills,” Rajput said in an official statement released by the Emirates Cricket Board while announcing his appointment.
“I am confident that the boys buoyed by their exposure to top-quality cricket and practice facilities here in Dubai will continue to prosper, UAE cricket has a very bright future and my goal would be to make the team perform more consistently and take them to the next level which I am very confident they are fully capable of,” the 62-year-old added.
Lalchand Rajput was the manager of the Indian team that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 played in South Africa. Former Indian player Rajput represented India in six international matches in 1985. He took up coaching and became one of the most proflic domestic coaches.
Rajput also coached the Afghanistan team in 2016-17. Under his coaching, Afghanistan was awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. His next stint was with the Zimbabwe team from 2018-22. Under his coach, Rajput helped Zimbabwe to qualify for the ICC World T20 2022 played in Australia.
Zimbabwe qualified for the main round after finishing in the top two of the first round. Rajput will do wonders for the United Arab Emirates.
“We are confident that under his coaching UAE men’s cricket will flourish further. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mudassar Nazar for his stellar work as the interim head coach. Mudassar will now return to his role as Head of the National Academy Programme where he will continue to identify and groom our future stars.”
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