IPL franchise Punjab Kings have announced the appointment of Sanjay Bangar as their Head of Cricket Development for the upcoming 2024 season. This role marks Bangar's return to the franchise, having previously been part of their coaching staff from 2014 to 2016.
A statement from the franchise highlighted Bangar's extensive experience and the positive impact they anticipate he will have on their cricket development initiatives. "Mr. Bangar brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, and we are confident that under his leadership, our cricket development programs will reach new heights," the statement said.
During Bangar's earlier tenure in 2014, the team, then known as Kings XI Punjab, achieved their best performance to date by finishing as runners-up. However, the team has struggled to reach the playoffs since then.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Bangar stated, "It's my privilege to be with the Punjab Kings again. We have a good core of players as evidenced by the fact that we have the lowest number of player releases this year. The challenge is to give the squad the best support possible during and after the season to make the team stronger and deliver success."
Bangar, who has also served as the batting coach for the Indian national team, was the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons. However, his contract was not renewed for the upcoming season.
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