File photo: Azhar Mahmood was an active cricketer until May 2016 © PA Photos
Azhar Mahmood, the former Pakistan allrounder, has been appointed the team’s bowling coach for a two-year period. His term begins with the first Test of the New Zealand tour on November 17.
Mahmood, 41, had first been brought on as a temporary replacement for Mushtaq Ahmed for the Asia Cup, then worked along with Mushtaq at the World T20. He was with the team during the limited-overs series against England in August as well. The short-term nature of these stints was because Mahmood was contracted as a player with English county club Surrey until July 2016. He has already linked up with the Pakistan squad in Sharjah, where they were playing the third and final Test against West Indies.
Pakistan have been without a bowling coach since the end of the England tour. The PCB were deliberating over several candidates, including former fast bowler Aaqib Javed. However, he was unwilling to give up his current role as the PSL team Lahore Qalandars’ head of cricket operations.
Mahmood may have less than a year’s experience coaching an international team, but he represented Pakistan for 10 years and after he retired in 2007 he became a T20 specialist, playing for domestic teams at home and in England, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand and the West Indies.
Pakistan depart for New Zealand on November 4 to play two Tests, in Christchurch and Hamilton.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo