Lalchand Rajput to coach Zimbabwe national Cricket team

Mumbai: Former India opener Lalchand Rajput has been appointed as the head coach of Zimbabwe's national team. Zimbabwe Cricket made the announcement on their official Twitter handle.

"@ZimCricketv is thrilled to announce Lalchand Rajput has been appointed as the substantive head coach of our mens national team. 

The former @BCCI international is a respected and successful coach reputed for his passion, hard work and intimate knowledge of the game #AllTheBest," Zimbabwe Cricket tweeted.

Rajput was earlier appointed as the interim head coach of Zimbabwe in May for the tri-series involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe and for the ODI rubber against Pakistan.

 "I am happy and excited over the appointment and look forward to the challenges ahead. 

I am thankful to Zimbabwe Cricket for recognising my coaching abilities and giving me a three-year term, but renewable yearly," Rajput told PTI from Zimbabwe.

Rajput played two Tests and four ODIs for India and was a consistent performer for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. 

He was the cricket manager of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian team which lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.