Tushar Tere
Vadodara: It was after a gap of five years that Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) found an able Ranji coach in Mukesh Narula for 2010-11 season. Narula not only kept the young U-22 flock together, but also took the team to Ranji finals after nine long years. However, Narula won’t be coaching Baroda in next season. Despite his illustrious performance at both junior and senior level, the 47-year-old coach has decided against renewing his contract.
Narula has decided to join as coach in a cricket academy run by Canadian Professional Cricketers (CPC) league in Toronto. He will be flying to Canada with his family next month. His exit, however, has left BCA with a new headache. The association will have to begin hunting for a new coach all over again. The management had experimented with outside coaches for last five years but all of them failed to deliver goods. So Narula, a former Baroda cricketer, was appointed as Ranji coach in 2010.
“I got offer from a professional academy in Toronto, Canada. I found the offer challenging so I decided to take it up. I have some friends back in Canada who will be helping me out. I was offered a five-year contract but I have signed for only two years. If the job suits me I will stay on,” Narula told TOI.
Narula, who scored 2373 runs and took 104 wickets in 57 first-class games he played, also coached Baroda’s U-19 team that won the Cooch Behar Trophy in 2008. When Paras Mhambrey quit as Baroda coach in January 2010, Narula was appointed as interim coach and then offered full-time job for 2010-11 season. “It was a dream come true for me when Baroda reached Ranji Trophy finals. I had a satisfying stint as coach.
“Baroda now has got fantastic young cricketers who will make it big someday. I am now looking forward to develop cricket in Canada that too has great potential,” said Narula.
Narula’s exit will now open Pandora’s Box at BCA as several junior coaches will now lobby for the Ranji coach’s post. “Narula’s rivals left no opportunity to harass him or clip his wings. With his exit, some coaches will be eyeing the lucrative post,” said a BCA official.
Read more: Ex-cricketer who coached Baroda to Ranji finals quits – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Ex-cricketer-who-coached-Baroda-to-Ranji-finals-quits/articleshow/7621770.cms#ixzz1FcmZQtVQ