Former India Cricketer Lalchand Rajput Head Coach of UAE, Replaces Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar

Former India cricketer Lalchand Rajput was appointed as the head coach of the United Arab Emirates men’s team for three years. He replaces Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar.

Rajput was India’s coach when the team won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. He coached Afghanistan between 2016-17, when ICC granted the country Test status. He was the coach of Zimbabwe (2018-22), helping the side qualify for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

The 62-year-old Rajput’s appointment comes in the backdrop of UAE failing to make it to the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and the USA this year.

Rajput’s first assignment with the UAE side will be the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series against Scotland and Canada, being hosted in the UAE from February 28. It will be followed by a three-match T20I series against Scotland at home next month.

“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, who played two Tests and four ODIs for India, said in an Emirates Cricket Board release on Wednesday.