Pakistanis have an unbridled passion for cricket: Flower

Former England head coach hopes to see international cricket return in Pakistan

DUBAI: Former England head coach and arguably Zimbabwe’s greatest ever Test batsman Andy Flower hopes that international cricket would make a return to Pakistan soon.

Flower spoke exclusively to The Express Tribune during his stint as the batting consultant for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), on the side-lines of a training session at the ICC Academy, the 47-year old remarked that Pakistan cricket fans are incredibly passionate about the sport while reminiscing about his tours to the country with the Zimbabwean team.



“Pakistan cricket fans are so passionate about the game, on every occasion that I toured we were warmly received and I have some memorable experiences across the country.”

Flower— making his debut as a coach in franchise cricket — has a special affinity with Peshawar, the venue where Zimbabwe recorded their first away Test win in 1998.

“In 1998, we beat a strong Pakistan team at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, which is such a wonderful memory and one of our greatest Test wins. At the same venue I remember us dismissing Shahid Afridi for a duck in an ODI and the crowd disappearing from the stadiums in droves.”

The left-handed wicket-keeper and batsman who amassed 4,794 Test runs in only 63 appearances is hopeful that the PSL will help improve Pakistan’s reputation and enable the return of top flight cricket to the country eventually.

His younger brother, another former Zimbabwean international — Grant Flower — has the rather arduous task of handling Pakistan batsmen in his role as the national team’s batting coach. The duo has had a long association with the men in green and Andy is also hoping to help improve the young batting talent that is coming through the ranks at the franchise level.

Great highs and some lows

Flower who helped England reach the summit of Test cricket rankings has some great and some not-so-great memories of coaching the team at the highest level.

During his action packed tenure, England won the Ashes — 3-1 in the 2010-11 season in Australia before a calamitous 5-0 whitewash defeat on the return tour ‘Down Under’ — 2013-2014 —brought an end to his tenure.



A bruised and battered team was humiliated on the field by the rampaging Australians, England’s most successful batsman of the modern era Kevin Pietersen was also sent packing for good as stories of a fractious unit in his presence emerged from everywhere.

But even after the end of his coaching stint, Flower has remained involved with the English Cricket Board (ECB).

Presently, Flower is looking after the Academy team while heading the English development program with a team of experienced coaches under him.

“As England’s head coach, we saw some great wins and there were some downers too. But that is how it pans out and I am happy with the role that I have at the moment.”

Flower stayed in the UAE for more than two months — he also oversaw the England Lions limited overs series against Pakistan A — the 2016 county and English home season is set to be another gruelling one for Flower as he further builds his association with a game that has given him a big name and an international stature for his outstanding services.