BHUBANESWAR 10-Aug-2015
Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) today appointed its former Ranji team captain Rashmi Ranjan Parida as the batting coach of the state Ranji and under-23 teams for the season 2015-16. The appointment virtually brought to an end the two decade-long first-class career of Parida even though he is yet to formally announce his retirement from competitive cricket.
``We were in need of a good batting coach to replace Shiv Sundar Das, who was entrusted with the charge of Odisha Cricket Academy earlier this year. Since Parida has tons of experience, we offered him the job and he accepted it. Announcing retirement now remains a formality,`` said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera.
``Since no state had approached me for the upcoming Ranji season, I accepted OCA`s offer. Moreover, Odisha cricket was always in my heart even though I played for other states as a professional. It`s challenging job and I am looking forward to give it my best shot,`` said 38-year-old Parida, an employee of Air India.
A classy batsman, Parida is the only one from Odisha to have represented five states in Ranji Trophy Championship. After serving his home state for 13 years (1994/95-2007/08), he played for Assam (2008/09), Rajasthan (2010/11-2012/13), Vidarbha (2013/14) and Himachal Pradesh (2014/15). A right-hand batsmen and part-time wicketkeeper, Parida played instrumental role in Rajasthan`s back-to-back Ranji Trophy triumph.
Odisha`s second most experienced first-class cricketer after former Test opener Shiv Sundar Das, Parida has the distinction of scoring 8,317 runs with an average of 42.21 in 139 matches he played so far in his illustrious career that spanned from 1994-95 to 2014-15. He hit 16 centuries and 51 fifties.
With Parida`s Saheed Sporting clubmate Debasis Mohanty guiding the state senior team as the head coach, the duo is expected form a solid combination for benefit of Odisha cricket in general and Ranji team in particular. According to OCA secretary Behera, the All-India Buchi Babu Tournament, scheduled to start at Hyderabad next week, will be Parida`s first assignment in his new role.
Though Padia`s has no coaching license, it is believed that his vast experience as a player will be more than enough for the new job. ``I, of course, have a B category coaching license from England. But I don`t know its worth in India. However, I am confident of doing justice to the coaching job and hope to enjoy it as well,`` asserted Parida.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has appointed Pankaj Pattnaik, the chief curator of OCA, as a member of its Ground & Pitches Committee for one year from August 1.
