Former Indian national team player turned UAE head coach

The UAE cricket team has officially announced the name of its new head coach, former Indian national team batsman Lalchand Rajput.

"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", – commented the 62-year-old Indian on his appointment.

Rajput played 6 matches for the Indian national team during his playing career.

This will not be Rajput's first experience with an international team, as he has previously coached the Indian and Afghan national teams. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the head coach of the Zimbabwe national team.

Rajput's debut with the UAE national team will take place on February 28 when his new team kicks off the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 ODI tri-series. The UAE will face Scotland and Canada in the series.