JAIPUR: The Emirates Cricket Board has signed India’s Manpreet Sidhu as ‘lead team performance and strategy analyst coach’ for its men’s national team. The 40-year-old Sidhu will be part of the support staff for the UAE cricket squad. This is Sidhu’s second contract with any international side after Team Canada.
Former India cricketer Lalchand Rajput has been appointed as the head coach of UAE’s men’s cricket team a couple of months ago for a three-year period.
Sidhu, a former player and coach of Madhya Pradesh, has been associated with cricket in multiple roles for the last 16 years. He has served as a support staff in various franchise-based leagues across the world including Lanka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League and GT20 Canada Premier League. In the past, Sidhu has also worked with several state cricket associations, affiliated with the BCCI.
As a professional cricket performance analyst, apart from working as a qualified coach, he offers his services to players to improve their game. This signing with the UAE cricket team has given him a good opportunity to chalk out strategy for the players in all aspects of the game.
“This is a good chance and challenge for me. I will work with the team to prepare them for better performance. I will assist all the players and coordinate properly with head coach Lalchand Rajput. Being busy with other cricket commitments, I couldn’t join the team earlier,” Sidhu told TOI on Thursday.
He said that the way the team performed in the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup and emerged champions was quite encouraging.
“With this triumph UAE team has qualified for the upcoming Asia Cup and it is a big achievement for the gulf nation. It was a great effort in which I was working for the UAE team from India itself. I hope that the players of UAE and UAE Cricket Board will establish their name in world cricket by performing well in international cricket in the coming years,” added Sidhu.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!Suhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, J...
Read MoreSuhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, Jaipur edition.
He joined TOI Jaipur edition in February, 2023. He was also part of the TOI Nagpur edition from 2006 to 2020 as a sports reporter. He has been covering sports for more than two decades.
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