Ahmed Raza, 38, born in Sharjah, has been appointed head coach of the UAE men's cricket team, taking over from Lalchand Rajput. Raza previously spent three years as head coach of the UAE women's team before moving into this new role leading the men's side.

As a player, Raza built a long record with the UAE, appearing in 53 ODIs and 55 T20Is and captaining the side in 29 ODIs and 27 T20Is. On the coaching front, he has worked with Dubai Capitals in the UAE's ILT20 league and with Southern Brave in England's The Hundred competition.

Reacting to the appointment, Raza said: "I am honoured to have been chosen for this exciting role and look forward to beginning my new innings," adding that his goal is to "consolidate the good work done in recent years."

Emirates Cricket Board member Zayed Abbas said he was confident Raza "will be able to make a significant impact and take the men's team forward."

Outgoing coach Lalchand Rajput leaves behind a tenure that included the UAE's qualification for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, along with a series win over Bangladesh. The appointment puts Raza in charge of building on that progress as the UAE continues pushing for a bigger presence on the international cricket stage.