Manoj Prabhakar named head coach of Nepal's National Cricket Team

The Cricket Association of Nepal has confirmed that former India pacer Manoj Prabhakar has been appointed as the head coach of the Nepal team. He has succeeded 52-year-old Pubudu Dassanayake, the former Sri Lankan Test wicketkeeper-batter, who left the position in July citing “personal reasons” and went on to accept a similar job position with the Canada men’s team.

Prabhakar played 169 international matches for India as a bowling all-rounder. In an ODI match against Sri Lanka in April 1984 at Sharjah, Prabhakar made his Team India debut. Later, in December 1984, he made his Test debut.

Prior to joining Nepal’s team, he had also been associated with Afghanistan’s team as their bowling coach. Prabhakar previously served as a coach for the Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh Ranji teams. He played 130 ODIs and 39 Tests for India between 1984 and 1996.

“Former Indian star all-rounder and Ranji trophy winning coach, Mr. Manoj Prabhakar from India has been appointed as the Head Coach of 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 the Afghanistan Cricket Team along with Ranji Trophy teams of Delhi, Rajasthan, and UP Cricket Association,” The Cricket Association of Nepal said in the official statement.

I’m really looking forward to working with the Nepal cricket team: Manoj Prabhakar

The Nepal Men’s Cricket Team has eight victories in 20 games, which puts them in second-to-last place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 standings. Since Ireland and the United Arab Emirates advanced from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier A tournament in Oman, Nepal cricket has been having difficulty competing on the international stage. As a result, they failed to qualify for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

“Seeing the interest for cricket in Nepal, their talent & skill level, I’m really looking forward to working with the Nepal cricket team to make them into a cricketing force to be reckoned with,” Prabhakar was quoted as saying in a statement by the board.