Robin Singh steps down as UAE coach; Mudassar Nazar appointed as interim coach

Former India all-rounder Robin Singh has stepped down as the Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) director of cricket after a string of poor results displayed by the team. Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar will take charge as an interim coach for the national team’s next assignment. Notably, the team will depart for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier play-off in Namibia later this month.

On Tuesday morning, the board announced that the squad is set to tour Windhoek (Namibia) via an official press release. Surprisingly, there were no quotes attributed to the coach in the release. Notably, Singh was also not present in the side’s rain-affected practice match at The Sevens on the same day. Meanwhile, Dougie Brown, the previous UAE coach was present in Singh's absence at The Sevens. Brown is currently running the Rajasthan Royals Academy, which is based at the multi-sports facility on Al Ain Road. 

As per N Cricket, ECB later announced that Singh’s stint with the board has come to an end and Nazar will take over the role for the team’s Namibia tour. 

UAE has taken the action in order to safeguard its one-day international status. They need to finish in the top two out of a group of four teams, including Papua New Guinea, Canada, and Jersey to maintain the right to play the 50-over format. The former India cricketer who was appointed as the coach on February 2020, has not been able to turn the fortunes of the team so far.

Notably. Singh was appointed by ECB after his wonderful spell with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. He served the Indian national team as their fielding coach from 2007 to 2008 and was appointed as the first head coach of former IPL franchise Deccan Chargers. In 2009, he joined the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI), as their batting coach.

Thereafter Singh served MI as their head coach for three years from 2010. He helped the MI occupy the runner-up position during the 2010 IPL season and was a part of the coaching structure since then winning the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 IPL titles.

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