Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket have turned to former Indian batsman Lalchand Rajput to lead the national team technical department as interim head coach for the upcoming T20I triangular series involving Pakistan and Australia.

The 56-year old former opening batsman, who played two Tests and four ODIs for his country between 1985 and 1987, is expected in the country in the coming days to start preparing for the triangular series.

Rajput is one of the candidates who have been earmarked for the ZC job that was left vacant following the sacking of Heath Streak recently.

Streak was shown the exit together with the entire coaching staff, convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu and captain Graeme Cremer following Zimbabwe’’s failure to qualify for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

ZC spokesperson, Darlington Majonga, yesterday said the search for a substantive coach is still on, adding that the board will make further announcements on the composition of the technical team for the triangular series.

“As you know recently we flighted adverts and the board has been in the process of recruiting new staff to fill the vacancies in the technical team. So this is an interim appointment.

“Obviously the board will also look at how he discharges his duties and other considerations during this series and he could be considered as well to get the job on full time basis,” said Majonga.

Rajput has previously coached Afghanistan, helping guide them towards Full Member status after taking the job in 2016 before being replaced by Phil Simmons earlier this year.

He was also India’s cricket manager when they triumphed at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, before taking charge of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League a year later.

Rajput toured Zimbabwe with Afghanistan for a five-match One Day International series last year which the Asians won 3-2 in Harare.

ZC announced in a statement yesterday that they were content with the arrangement.

“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has appointed Lalchand Rajput as the interim head coach of the senior men’s national team.

“The 56-year-old is expected to start work immediately ahead of the triangular Twenty20 international (T20I) series involving Zimbabwe, Australia and Pakistan in Harare in July.

“Rajput is a highly qualified, vastly experienced and well-respected coach who was in charge when India won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007.

“Apart from his success with India, he was also Afghanistan’s head coach and led them to Test status.

“He has also coached the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, while his stellar work as the coaching director of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s National Cricket Academy is well-documented.

“As a player, Rajput was a solid opening batsman who played Test and one-day international cricket for India,” read a statement from ZC.

The union has since appointed Walter Chawaguta as convener of selectors with former national team captain Prosper Utseya and ex-convener Kenyon Ziehl also deployed in the new panel.

The panel has started work and a training squad for the T20I will be announced in the next few days.