Image Credit- AP
Former India international Lalchand Rajput has
replaced temporary head coach Mudassar Nazar as the head coach of the UAE for a
three-year contract.
Rajput previously coached Afghanistan when they were granted Test status in
2017 and managed India when they won the 2007 T20 World Cup. He most recently
served as the head coach of Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2022.
“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,” Rajput said in a statement from the Emirates Cricket Board.
“The current batch is exceptionally talented and I look forward to working
with them and further harnessing their cricket skills.”
Rajput’s first task will be to manage the UAE’s League
2 tri-series campaign, which begins on February 28 and pits the team against
Scotland and Canada in a league that qualifies for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He
leads a team that most recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Afghanistan in a T20I
series.
UAE was eliminated from the 2024 T20 World Cup as well after losing to Nepal in
the Asia-Pacific qualifiers semifinals in November.
“We are confident that under his coaching UAE
men’s cricket will flourish further,” Mubashshir Usmani – ECB general
secretary said. “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.”