Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named new coaching staff for the five-T20I series at home against a second-string New Zealand side. Former Pakistan fast-bowling all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been named as the head coach.
Wahab Riaz will be with the squad as the senior team manager. Mahmood will be assisted by Mohammad Yousuf and Saeed Ajmal as batting and bowling coach respectively. Ajmal was also with the side on the tours of Australia and New Zealand. He has retained his position.
This is not Mahmood's first coaching stint with Pakistan men's cricket team. During 2016-2019 period, he was the bowling coach.
He has represented Pakistan in 21 Tests and 143 ODIs. He has a total of 162 wickets on the international stage. With the bat he has three Test centuries. In the ODIs, he has three half-centuries to his name.
Meanwhile, the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand will be announced on April 9. Babar Azam will be leading the side after he was reinstated as captain the limited-overs format. Pakistan players recently trained with the nation’s army to prepare for the T20I series.
New Zealand have already named their T20I squad. As several players are busy participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Michael Bracewell will lead the side.
The T20I series will begin on April 18. The first three matches will be played in Rawalpindi. The last two matches of the series will be played in Lahore on April 25 and 27 respectively.
T20I series before T20 World Cup
Before the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, Pakistan will tour Ireland for a three-T20I series which will commence on May 10. The last T20I series they will play before the mega event will be against defending champions England. The four-T20I series on English soil will be played from May 22 to May 30.
New Zealand T20I squad
Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O'Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
