Vadodara: Former national wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia has been appointed as the coach of Thailand’s national cricket team and will prepare the players for the June 12-22 Asian Cricket Council Trophy in Malaysia.

The Test discard has not played international cricket since turning up in the famous Calcutta Test against Australia in 2000-01.

India had turned the match on its head after following on to carve out an unforgettable win and level the three-match series.

Confirming the Vadodara stumper’s new role, his wife Tanu said Wednesday that Mongia has still not given up hope of regaining his place in the national team. She said it was at the instance of the Thailand Cricket Association that he took up his new job.

“The Thais approached him for training the Thai team and help it to qualify for the ICC Trophy next year in Ireland through the ACC Trophy,” Tanu said.

“He is in Bangkok on a one and-a-half month assignment. He has been given additional responsibility of training the country’s under 19 cricket team too,” she said.

“Coaching is not new for him as he has been training youngsters in this city. He is satisfied with his new job”, she added.