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Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) has promoted two of its team management members to global roles. While Mahela Jayawardene has been promoted from MI’s head coach to Global Head of Performance by the franchise, Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan will now be MI's Global Head of Cricket Development. The move to give the two former players elevated roles come amid MI expanding into the T20 leagues in South Africa and the UAE.
The franchise confirmed the two new appointments on Wednesday and said that the two form the central team for the MI's "growing global cricket footprint". The franchise explained its decision of promoting Jayawardene and Khan to global roles as it said that the two MI veterans have deep knowledge of the MI value system and a proven track record.
On Jayawardene's new role, MI wrote in their press release: "As part of building the structure, two MI veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Zaheer Khan with deep knowledge of the MI value system and proven track record, are being elevated to new roles."
The statement also said Zaheer Khan "will be responsible for player development, building on MI's robust program around talent identification and grooming and adopting the same across geographies, which has been core to MI's philosophy and success. Each geography comes with its unique set of challenges and Zaheer's elevated role will play an important role in helping MI teams across the globe."
Meanwhile, both Jayawardene and Khan expressed their gratitude toward the franchise and said that feel humbled. "It is an absolute honour for me to lead MI's global cricket operations. Mrs Ambani and Akash's leadership and guidance have made MI the most valued global cricket franchise and I am very happy to see MI grow globally. I look forward to this new responsibility to build a strong cohesive global brand of cricket," Jayawardene was quoted as saying.
"I am humbled to take on this new role and thank Mrs Nita Ambani and Akash for their faith in me. MI has been home for me as a player and as a coaching team member, and now as we embark on a new journey. I look ahead to working closely with all the stakeholders in the global network to unearth new potential that can join the family," Zaheer said about his new role.