Mohanty replaces Bevan as Orissa coach

Debasis Mohanty, the former India seamer, has replaced Michael Bevan as coach of Orissa after Bevan had to return to Australia due to a "family problem". Bevan had agreed to coach Orissa for the 2011-12 domestic season in India and began his term when Orissa toured Australia in the pre-season. He then led the team through a poor Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, where they won just one game, after which he requested permission to go home for 15 days.

The Orissa Cricket Association decided they did not want to have a stop-gap coach so have appointed Mohanty, who has played for Orissa since 1996-97 and has a level one coaching license.

"He [Bevan] had some family problem and wanted to fly home for 15 days. We cannot have somebody as a stop-gap coach so had to part ways," OCA secretary Asirbad Behera told PTI. "Mohanty has already joined the side. He is the best available option."

Mohanty has played 117 first-class games for Orissa, and was named captain last year after Shiv Sunder Das was dropped from the squad. Mohanty played two Tests and 45 one-day international for India between 1997 and 2001.

"He has been associated with Orissa cricketers and knows all of them," Behera said. "He was the obvious choice. He has been given a contract for the whole season."