Afghanistan snap up Lawson, want Dwyer too

Australian pair to work in short stint with U19, national squads.

KARACHI: Afghanistan have snapped up Geoff Lawson as a consultant for their under-19 team ahead of the World Cup that takes place in Australia this August.

Lawson, the former Pakistan coach, will work with the Afghanistan team after it arrives in Australia almost three weeks ahead of the event.

“We approached Lawson because he has great knowledge and is a local,” Bashir Stanekzai, Afghanistan Cricket Board’s high performance programme manager, told The Express Tribune. “We’re sending our team to Australia on July 21, well ahead of kick-off so that the players get acclimatised to the conditions and the pitches. I’m sure Lawson’s input will be very useful for the youngsters.”

Meanwhile, the board has not ruled out taking on the Australian in a permanent role following the global event ‘if he shows interest’, according to Stanekzai. Earlier, Lawson had confirmed to The Express Tribune that he had accepted the offer and was looking forward to the challenge while ruling out any interest in the Australian bowling coach’s position left vacant by Craig McDermott.

The Afghanistan board is also in negotiations with David Dwyer, former Pakistan cricket trainer, to be part of the national squad for the 2012 World Twenty20 that takes place in Sri Lanka from September. Dwyer, who is yet to accept the offer, was part of Fiji’s squad in the 2011 Rugby World Cup but has not gone back to cricket since he parted ways with the Pakistan Cricket Board in late 2010.

“We’re looking to hire Dwyer as our strengthening and conditioning coach for the World Twenty20,” added Stanekzai. “The negotiations are ongoing and the deal hasn’t been confirmed yet. Hopefully his arrival, and stay with the team for 60 to 70 days, will give us positive results in the big event.”

Dwyer, meanwhile, expressed his willingness to be part of a World Cup once again but is currently weighing up the offer given the security situation in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2012.