Rajiv Nayyar appointed head coach of UTCA Ranji team

Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 23

Former cricketer of Himachal Rajeev Nayyar from Chamba has been given the assignment as head coach of Ranji Trophy cricket team by the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA) Chandigarh.

Expressing his gratitude to the governing body of the UTCA here on Thursday, Nayyar said he was thankful to UTCA president Sanjay Tandon for giving him the assignment as level ‘B’ coach.

“I have an experience of 20 years in first class cricket. I was earlier a selector with Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) senior team for five years”, said Rajeev while sharing his experience. He said he had played cricket under the guidance of his father Major SC Nayyar, who was captain of the first HP Ranji team.

Rajeev captained Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy for 10 years. He has to his credit several records at national and international level.

Recipient of Parshuram award from the Himachal government, Rajeev’s name figured in the Guinness Book of World Record in 1999 for the longest stay at the wicket. He broke the 40 year old record made by legend batsman from Pakistan Hanif Mohammad.

He emerged the first batsman from Himachal to score 952 runs in 1999 in first class cricket and got second position in batting in India in the year. He is the first batsman who scored a century for HP in Ranji Trophy. He is the first batsman of the state to score first century against Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Services and J&K and the first state bowler to get five wickets in a Ranji match.

“I scored a century in my last game of Ranji match and won the game for my team,” Rajeev said.