Surendra Bhave to coach Haryana

Surendra Bhave, the former Maharashtra captain and national selector, is set to coach Haryana after a successful stint as coach with his home team.

Though he hasn't signed the dotted line yet, Bhave and Haryana Cricket Association have mutually agreed on his appointment. Despite guiding Maharashtra to their first Ranji Trophy final since 1992-93 last season, Bhave was recently released from his duties by the Maharashtra Cricket Association. Since the HCA, headed by BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, had been on the lookout for a replacement for Ajay Jadeja, it approached Bhave once the HCA officials were made aware of Bhave's availability.

After finishing his four-year stint as a national selector in 2011, Bhave was heading the Maharashtra selection panel. He was asked to take charge of the senior side after Dermot Reeve was sacked as coach midway through the 2012-13 season. Though he could do little to improve the performance of the young team in the limited-overs' tournaments, he justified his appointment by helping the team make their first Ranji final in 21 years.

Haryana finished a disappointing eighth in Group A of the Ranji Trophy last season with Jadeja having been appointed as captain cum coach.

On Saturday, Bhave was seen on the sidelines of Haryana's KSCA All-India invitational tournament's semi-final against KSCA Colts at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. Bhave is likely to stay with the team for the final as well.