The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has named Milap Mewada as the batting coach for the senior men’s team for their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. Mewada, a former Baroda wicketkeeper-batter, brings a wealth of coaching experience from working with various state teams in the domestic circuit.
Mewada had also been in contention for the head coach position of Baroda this season. However, the Baroda Cricket Association appointed Mukund Parmar after their initial choice, Amol Muzumdar, declined the role. Mewada’s coaching stint with the Afghanistan team began a few weeks ago, where he conducted a training camp in Abu Dhabi with the T20I players before joining them in Bangladesh for the series.
Under the leadership of head coach Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan boasts a strong support staff, including Raees Ahmadzai as the assistant coach, Mewada as the batting coach, and Riyan Maron as the fielding coach. Hamid Hassan, a former Afghanistan fast bowler, is the bowling coach, while Jason Douglas is responsible for strength and conditioning.
With the ODI World Cup scheduled in India in October-November, Afghanistan’s decision to include Mewada indicates their focus on preparing for the tournament in familiar conditions. Mewada’s experience and knowledge of Indian conditions could prove valuable as the team gears up for the prestigious event.
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During his playing career, Mewada represented Baroda in 11 first-class matches and 26 List-A matches between 1996 and 2005. After retiring from active cricket, he transitioned into coaching and has been instrumental in guiding young cricketers. His coaching played a significant role in Jammu and Kashmir’s run to the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy in the 2019-20 season. Additionally, Mewada’s recommendation of Abdul Samad to VVS Laxman resulted in the talented cricketer securing a spot in the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the Indian Premier League.
As Afghanistan looks to make a mark in the T20I series against Bangladesh and build momentum for the upcoming ODI World Cup, Mewada’s expertise will be crucial in honing the team’s batting skills and strategy.
