Rajput plunges into the deep end

27 May, 2018 - 00:05 0 Views
Rajput plunges into the deep end

The Sunday Mail

ZIMBABWE CRICKET’S announcement that former Afghanistan head coach Llchand Rajput will replace Heath Streak as Chevrons coach has been met with scorn in some quarters.
Memes have flooded the Internet in the week since the announcement, with people questioning the logic of hiring such a “low profile” coach.

Rajput has had coaching stints in Afghanistan (2016-17), Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and a managerial post when India lifted the inaugural T20 back in 2007.

This admittedly thin coaching résumé is perhaps only as thin as his background as a player.

The 56-year-old played two Test matches and four One-day Internationals for India, scoring 105 and four runs respectively.

This was despite being an opener who showed great promise in his early years.

In his first interview since his surprise pick for the Chevrons top job, Rajput sounded like a man confident of his abilities.

“I am a positive person and always be positive in my approach,” Cricinfo quoted Rajput saying.

“I am really happy with this, because this is what I was looking for after the job with Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan did exceptionally well when I was the coach there, so the people in Zimbabwe must have seen something that impressed them. But yes, it’s a challenge. Challenges get the best out of me, and I think people know me for that.”

As brave as he sounds, there is the lingering fear that the former Afghanistan and Mumbai Indians head coach might have bitten off more than he can chew.

For one, he comes to Zimbabwe on an interim basis; his three-month contract serving as an audition.

During that time Zimbabwe has only one tour scheduled, and that is a Twenty-20 series against Australia and Pakistan.

In Australia, the Chevrons will face a team in need of some positive spin after the ball tampering scandal that marred their tour to South Africa in February.

The Aussies have since flipped the script and named a very strong outfit as opposed to calling on fringe players as they have often done when facing Zimbabwe.

Among the big names in the Aussie squad are Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell, Andrew Tye, Travis Head, Marcus Stonis and Kane Richardson.

While Pakistan and Zimbabwe are yet to name their squads, the Asian nation will not be short of game time given the number of Pakistani internationals currently active at the IPL.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, has not been in action since the World Cup qualifiers and last played an T20 international in February.

Before the first ball is bowled, Rajput faces the task of picking the spirits of a Chevrons unit ravaged by the disappointment of the failing to qualify for next year’s World Cup, the sacking of their entire technical team, and Zimbabwe Cricket’s failure to pay outstanding match fees and allowances.

“My first job will be to get the players ready for the triangular series. I have not yet met the players; I will go there and slowly find out everything, meet them, understand them, motivate them,” said the coach.

“There is a lot of talent there, but I need to turn things around quickly and hopefully take them to the next level.

The main thing is to get the players together and get them to perform as a unit.”

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