After Grant Flower was appointed the batting coach of the national team, only the fielding spot remains to be occupied. PHOTO: AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former Zimbabwe player Grant Flower as the national team’s batting coach on a two-year contract, after hiring Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed in the coaching panel previously.
The Pakistan team management has been undergoing a reshuffle after the World Twenty20 debacle, and the board continues to add different pieces for the complete picture of the coaching jigsaw puzzle.
Mushtaq was recently appointed as spin consultant, while Waqar obtained the post of head coach. Now Flower has been given the task of coaching batsmen, with all three former players receiving two-year contracts.
Flower will join the team at the start of August to work with the players on their upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
“Acting on the recommendation of the coach selection committee comprising Moin Khan, Intikhab Alam and Haroon Rashid, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi has appointed former Zimbabwe player Flower as the batting coach for two years,” stated the PCB official press release.
“Zaheer Abbas, Special Adviser to chairman PCB, and chief coach Waqar also concurred with the committee’s recommendation. Flower shall be joining the Pakistan team on August 1, 2014.”
The 43-year-old former opening batsman played 67 Tests and 221 ODIs for Zimbabwe.
He scored 3,457 runs in Test cricket at an average of 29.54, including a double century (201 not out) against Pakistan at Harare in 1995.
Meanwhile, his one-day record stands at a better average of 33.52 with 6,571 runs to his credit, from 214 innings with six centuries and 40 fifties while he also took 104 wickets in the format.
‘Flower was front-runner from the beginning’
Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq were in close competition for the spin consultant spot, but that was not the case in the selection of the batting coach, according to a senior PCB official.
“Flower emerged the clear favourite when all applicants for the batting coach position were shortlisted,” the official told The Express Tribune.
“He is a level-IV qualified coach, along with an impressive international track record, something which was missing in most of the other applicants.
“He was a very good player for Zimbabwe in all departments; batting, bowling and fielding. He is focused and dedicated towards his work.”
Foreign applicants a good sign for Pakistan: Sethi
PCB Chairman Sethi stressed that it is a positive sign that foreign coaches are willing to come to Pakistan and it will create a soft image of the country.
“It’s a positive and encouraging sign for Pakistan cricket that foreigners are keen on coming here and coaching the national team,” said Sethi.
“I hope he’ll prove to be a good addition to the team management and will transfer his professional knowledge and approach to the players.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2014.
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I don't Doubt his "Skills" ! Good Addition.