Mukesh Narula appointed Canada coach

Mukesh Narula, the former Baroda allrounder, has been appointed coach of Canada. Narula had also coached Baroda and was at the helm when they finished runners-up if the 2010-11 Ranji season. He also coached the West Zone team in the Duleep Trophy in 2010.

Narula, 51, is a Cricket Australia Level 3 coach. He worked with the Canada Under-19 team and also coached the Brampton Masters Cricket Club from 2011 to 2013. They won the Toronto District Cricket Association Elite Division in 2012.

"I am very grateful to Cricket Canada for giving me the responsibility as national coach," Narula said. "Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to closely work with talented and budding cricketers here and I believe that we have the talent and skills that can be honed to reclaim Canada's place in world cricket."

Narula represented Baroda from 1985 to 1997. In 57 first-class matches, for Baroda and West Zone, he scored 2372 runs at 33.42 with five centuries. A right-arm seamer, he took 104 wickets with six five-wicket hauls. He also played 19 List A games, taking 27 wickets.

Narula migrated to Canada in 2011 after the Ranji season. He was employed as coach of an academy managed by the Canadian Professional Cricketers. Narula said he was struck by the popularity of the game in the country.

"Cricket is the fastest growing sport in Canada," Narula told the Hindu. "Baseball diamonds have been converted to practice nets with batting cages. I coached one at Etobicoke in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

"About 200 plus teams play in four leagues. League tournaments are also played at Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, Nova Scotia. The players have to travel long distances and that's the real challenge; the air fare between a few cities could cost as high as $1000. Lack of funds and sponsorship are major hindrances."

Narula's forthcoming assignments include the WCL Division 2 and ICC Americas T20.