Grant Bradburn will take charge as the PCB’s head of high-performance coaching © Peter Della Penna
The PCB has brought in significant changes including three new appointments at its High Performance Centre (HPC). Grant Bradburn, until now fielding coach of the Pakistan national side, will take over as head of high-performance coaching, while Saqlain Mushtaq has been appointed head of international player development. In addition, Asser Malik, a managing director of a player-management agency and franchise owner in the amateur league Last Man Stands, takes charge as high-performance operations Manager. He will, upon assuming his role at the PCB, relinquish involvement in the player-management agency.
Appointments at the National Cricket Academy, the venue for the HPC, had been expected since the PCB released director of domestic cricket Haroon Rasheed and chief curator Agha Zahid six weeks ago to begin a restructuring process. Chief operating officer Wasim Khan had hinted towards fresh, younger hires at the HPC, telling ESPNcricinfo last year that Pakistan needed “people who were relevant, hungry, and committed to making a difference”.
David Parsons, a former director of the ECB’s High Performance Centre, visited Pakistan in 2019 to present a detailed report to the PCB with recommendations for how to go about revamping the National Cricket Academy. Wasim, who has been most vocal in championing an overhaul of the work culture at the PCB and the operations at the National Cricket Academy, has spent most of his career working in England, with the PCB looking to adapt the workings of the ECB’s high-performance culture at the NCA.
“The High Performance Centre is the heart of Pakistan cricket, which will ultimately set the direction of Pakistan cricket’s future,” Wasim said. “The unique skills and understanding that each of these individuals have of their specific areas will help create alignment to International standards and best practices.
“I am confident the team of [high-performance director] Nadeem Khan, Grant Bradburn and Saqlain Mushtaq will create greater alignment between domestic and International cricket, make our high-performance programs relevant in the modern world and will drive the standards and levels of professionalism required within our system.”
Bradburn’s move to the HPC means the position of fielding coach with the international side becomes vacant. The PCB said it would be filled in due course, at head coach Misbah-ul-Haq’s discretion. A Level 3 coach, Bradburn is understood to have applied for the role at the NCA, with the PCB praising “his strong reputation of creating united and successful environments”.
“I am honoured that my association and relationship with Pakistan cricket continues,” Bradburn said. “I consider it a privilege to work here in Pakistan among highly skilled players and coaches, while I have realised there is incredible talent and passion for the game in this country.
“I now aim to support our best players by enabling our current and future coaches with the skills they need to create world’s best players and winning environments. In turn, this proud cricket nation will aim to become self-reliant on cricket coaching resources that are both world leading and uniquely Pakistan.
“I have attended meetings with other members of the High Performance Centre and have been impressed with their approach, vision and strategy. I am looking forward to making a meaningful contribution during my time at the High Performance Centre and I plan to succeed in creating an environment which all coaches will find challenging, productive and rewarding.”
Saqlain, also a Level 3 coach, has extensive experience as a spin-bowling coach and consultant, having worked in at least one of those roles previously for West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan. “It is an honour and a privilege to represent Pakistan,” he said. “In this background, I am delighted to have been offered this exciting opportunity to work on skillful and exciting young cricketers and help them grow in their careers.
“Before agreeing to the role, I had a look at a number of things, including the cricketing environment and people I will be working with. I think the vision, aspirations and strategy of the PCB is heading in the right direction and, as such, it is the right time to join the high performance team in Lahore and try to take Pakistan cricket back to its glory days.”
Danyal Rasool is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Danny61000
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo