I want to bring back past glory of Zimbabwe cricket, says Lalchand Rajput
Lalchand Rajput looks determined to bring back the glorious days of a currently struggling Zimbabwe side, just like he transformed Afghanistan cricket team. The former Indian cricketer has clarified that Zimbabwe have always had talent and now the time has come to get some results out of it.
Rajput, who recently replaced Heath Streak as the head-coach of Zimbabwe’s cricket team, has expressed his happiness over his appointment and thanked the cricket board of the country for approaching him. Under Rajput, Afghanistan captured full Membership at the ICC and won six limited-overs series. They also got a win over the Windies in an ODI at Gros Islet as it was their first ever win in this format over a Full Member other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. Afghanistan was recently given Test status and will play their first ever Test against India in next month at Bengaluru.
"When I joined Afghanistan nobody knew that Afghanistan would go to that level. And we (Afghanistan) got the Test status. We never lost a series. And now people are talking about Afghanistan that they are doing well. The same thing, I would like Zimbabwe to do," Rajput told PTI.
"I am really happy that Zimbabwe approached me and they wanted my services. It is a great feeling that an international team is recognizing my talent. At the same time, it is a big challenge because Zimbabwe has not qualified for the (2019) World Cup, so people are talking about it. But I look at it in a positive way, it is a challenge for me and I like challenges."
Lalchand Rajput will take up the new assignment in June first-week on a mission of Twenty20-tri series against Pakistan at Harare scheduled to be played on July 1.
"My main job is to prepare them well for this tournament," said the former India cricket manager.
“I have suggested a few things. They have picked up four teams and there are more than 50-60 players. So I said you play matches and once we play matches, then we can have a good look at the players and then select the national team."
Rajput insisted that Zimbabwe has a bunch of talented players and clarified that the time has come to convert it to performances.
"Afghanistan had gone to Zimbabwe and we played them and beat them. So I know most of the players. Zimbabwe is a Test playing and it has been there for a number of years. So talent is there and they have got fantastic players.”
"They have produced some of the world class players like Flower brothers (Andy and Grant), (Brandon) Taylor is there, (Graeme) Creamer is there, so talent is there (and) now getting that talent into performance and performance on consistent basis is my main focus," said Rajput, who played two Tests and four ODIs for India.