Former stumper Dighe appointed as Mumbai coach

Mumbai: Former Test stumper Sameer Dighe was named as the new coach of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for next season.

"Sameer Dighe has been appointed as the Mumbai Ranji Team Coach for the season 2017-18", Mumbai Cricket Association said in a media release.

Dighe and another former Test cricketer Praveen Amre were in the running to take over the mantle from last season's coach, Chandrakant Pandit.

MCA's Cricket Improvement Committee, headed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, met to pencil in the 48-year-old Dighe as its choice.

Dighe, who does not have a top-level coaching experience, played in six Tests and 23 ODIs between 2000 and 2001.

Dighe told PTI that he felt honoured but, at the same time termed the assignment as challenging.

"It's a new assignment and I am looking forward to it, (as) Mumbai are Ranji Champions for over 40 times, there are expectations from me" he said.