Anju Jain to coach Baroda Women’s team

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has roped in former India cricketer and Arjuna-awardee, Anju Jain, for coaching its senior women’s cricket team. The decision was taken by the apex council on Tuesday that also hired ex-India cricketer Devieka Palshikar as an assistant coach. BCA officials said that Jain has been informed about her appointment. “I will be joining the Baroda women’s team as soon as I get guidelines from the BCA,” Jain told TOI.

When asked about her priority as a coach, Jain said that she wanted to bring back confidence among the players and create an atmosphere of trust so that they could play freely. Jain also said that she had worked with a few Baroda women cricketers in the past and it would help her bond well with the team.

Jain, a wicketkeeper, played for India for 12 years and had also captained the squad during Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2000. She retired in 2005 and went on to become the selector for Indian women’s team before taking up coaching.

Jain assumed the role of Indian women team’s coach between 2011 and 2013. She then joined as the head coach of Bangladesh women’s team in 2018 and helped the team beat India in Asia Cup finals. Bangladesh endured a barren run at the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, post which her contract with the BCB ended.

“Her contact with us was up to March. We were considering the performance of the World Cup. She must have felt that chances are slim of extending her contract and so she decided to leave. She did not inform us anything about it. As the contract ended she was there was nothing like resigning from the post or things like that,” the head of BCB women’s wing, Nadel Chowdhury, told Cricbuzz.

Jain’s appointment at BCA was necessitated after the BCA decided to discontinue the services of former India cricketer Atul Bedade as its women’s team coach. Bedade was suspended after a woman cricketer’s father complained against him for harassment earlier this year. But his suspension was withdrawn on Tuesday as the complainant decided not to pursue with his complaint.