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Cuttack, Oct 28: After failing to make a mark in the zonal Twenty20 tournament for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the Orissa Cricket Association has roped in former India seamer Debasis Mohanty to replace Australian Michael Bevan as the team's coach.
The state association finalised on the former India seamer after discussing with him before making a late-night announcement yesterday.
"Mohanty has already joined the side this morning. He is the best available option," OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said today.
Under the Australian coach, Orissa began their season very early as they toured Down Under for an exposure trip.
But everything went in vain in the zonal Twenty20 tournament in Jamshedpur when they failed to make the knockout stage, finishing fourth among five East Zone teams.
Toppers Bengal, and second-placed Assam made the cut from East Zone.
OCA, however informed that personal reasons were behind Bevan's exit. "He 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." Mohanty, who has a level one coaching licence, is the fittest candidate for Orissa.
"He has been associated with Orissa cricketers and knows all of them. He was the obvious choice. He has been given a contract for the whole season." The former India seamer played two Tests and 45 ODIs in a career spanning four years from 1997 to 2001.
The right-arm medium pacer found success in the limited overs format taking 57 wickets at an average of 29.15.
The state association finalised on the former India seamer after discussing with him before making a late-night announcement yesterday.
"Mohanty has already joined the side this morning. He is the best available option," OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said today.
Under the Australian coach, Orissa began their season very early as they toured Down Under for an exposure trip.
But everything went in vain in the zonal Twenty20 tournament in Jamshedpur when they failed to make the knockout stage, finishing fourth among five East Zone teams.
Toppers Bengal, and second-placed Assam made the cut from East Zone.
OCA, however informed that personal reasons were behind Bevan's exit. "He 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." Mohanty, who has a level one coaching licence, is the fittest candidate for Orissa.
"He has been associated with Orissa cricketers and knows all of them. He was the obvious choice. He has been given a contract for the whole season." The former India seamer played two Tests and 45 ODIs in a career spanning four years from 1997 to 2001.
The right-arm medium pacer found success in the limited overs format taking 57 wickets at an average of 29.15.
