KATHMANDU, AUGUST 8
The Cricket Association of Nepal today appointed former Indian all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar as the head coach of men's national cricket team.
The CAN was in search of the head coach after Canadian coach Pubudu Dassanayake resigned from the post last month after failing to unite the team. Dassanayake, who came to Nepal for his second stint as a coach in January at a time when the national team was divided into several units, did not get support from the team members and also could not get desired results in the ICC Cricket World Cup League-II.
With just eight wins in 20 matches, Nepal languish at the sixth position with 17 points in the seven-team standings. Prabhakar - who has a vast experience of 130 One Day International matches and 39 Tests as a player and has worked with several teams - is expected to get a tough time in saving the ODI status plus earning World Cup Qualifiers berth.
"As a coach, he has experience of working as coach of Afghanistan cricket team along with Ranji Trophy teams of Delhi, Rajasthan and UP Cricket Association," said CAN in a release. "Seeing the interest for cricket in Nepal, their talent and skill level, I'm really looking forward to working with Nepal cricket team to make them into a cricketing force to be reckoned with," Prabhakar was quoted as saying in the release issued by the CAN.
According to CAN, Prabhakar has been hired for one year with monthly salary of $15,000. CAN Secretary Prashant Bikram Malla said Prabhakar was finalised as the head coach of the national team after consultations with International Cricket Council and Indian cricket board.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 9, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
