UAE cricket team names new head coach

Former Indian Test batter Lalchand Rajput has been appointed the head coach of the UAE men’s national team for a three-year period.

Rajput officially takes charge this week. His first assignment will be the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 ODI tri-series being hosted in the UAE with Scotland and Canada as the other participants.

The tri-series begins on Wednesday, February 28. The UAE will then host Scotland for three bilateral T20Is next month.

"The 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," said the new coach.

Rajput represented India in six international matches in 1985. After retirement, he took up coaching and progressed to become one of the most accomplished domestic coaches in India. Thereafter, he coached India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winning team in 2007.

Rajput also coached Afghanistan in 2016-17. During his tenure Afghanistan were awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council.

His next stint was with the Zimbabwe’s men’s team, from 2018 to 2022. He helped the side qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (Australia 2022).

Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: "Rajput has a proven track record and has done an exceptional job as a coach for various national and domestic teams around the world. 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," he added.

Lalchand Rajput appointed UAE men's national team's head coach.
More details: https://t.co/2Ip61fMHrE pic.twitter.com/aFxpcfR7NX

— UAE Cricket Official (@EmiratesCricket) February 21, 2024