UPCA appoints Manoj Prabhakar as head coach of the Ranji Team

The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has made a flurry of changes in the team management before the start of the new season. Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar has been appointed as the new coach of Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy team whereas former coach Rizwan Shamshad will now be involved with refining the talent in the state after being designated as the selection committee chairman.

Prabhakar recently worked with Afghanistan team during World T20 as a consultant. He has earlier coached the Delhi Ranji team during the 2010-11 season.

Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (ipca) Director PD Pathak said that the decisions were taken during the working committee meeting of UPCA, held in Mussoorie on Friday. UPCA’s Secretary and Director Rajiv Shukla was also present at the meeting.

The Association has also named Arvind Kapoor as the chairman of junior selection committee while Nitu Dwivedi will head the senior selection committee for women. Similarly, the U-19, U-16 and U-14 team’s coaches and managers were also changed.

The biggest news was perhaps the appointment of Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was on Saturday as the consultant of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) academy – Gaur Hari Singhania Cricket Academy.

The decisions were taken during the working committee meeting of UPCA, held at Mussoorie in presence of secretary and Director Rajiv Shukla.

“Heath Streak was a fantastic bowler and well-known international captain in his playing days. It will be a great opportunity for the young UP cricketers to get guidance from him.

“He will be coming to our academy periodically to work with academy trainees. He will draw a blueprint for academy, a roadmap that would be followed by full-time coaches,” UPCA.