Former Indian cricketer Manoj Prabhakar has been appointed as the head coach of Nepal, Nepal Cricket Association said on Monday, 8 August.
Manoj Prabhakar will replace Pubudu Dasnaike, who recently resigned from his position and took over as the head coach of the Canada men’s team.
Manoj Prabhakar was a bowling all-rounder for India and represented his country in 169 international matches. He has served as the head coach for three Ranji Trophy teams and in 2016 served as the bowling coach for Afghanistan.
Confirming his appointment, a statement from the Nepal Cricket Association said: “Mr. Manoj Prabhakar, former Indian star all-rounder, and Ranji Trophy winning coach, has been appointed as the head coach of the Nepal national cricket team.
“Mr. Prabhakar has played 39 Test matches and 130 One Day Internationals for India. 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.”
Manoj Prabhakar said that talent in Nepal cricket is something that excites him. “Given his interest in cricket in Nepal, his talent and skill level, I am really looking forward to working with the Nepal cricket team to make him a cricket team.”
Prabhakar’s appointment comes at a crucial time in Nepal cricket. They have been struggling in international cricket of late, having missed out on qualification for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, after Ireland and the UAE made it to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier A tournament in Oman.
They are currently second from the bottom in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 table with eight wins from 20 matches.