Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a renewed management and coaching staff for the upcoming T20 International Series against Bangladesh, especially omitted assistant coach Azhar Mahmood from the coaching staff.
According to the Cricket Board, New Zealand’s Mike Hesson assumes the responsibility for the main coach. Among the other key agreements, Australia’s Ashley Noffke has been named as a bowling trainer, while Hanif Malik will act as a batting trainer. It points out that Naveed Akram Cheema has been appointed team leader.
The new support staff also includes Mohammad Masroor as field coach, Cliff Deacon as a physiotherapist and Imranullah as a strength and conditioning coach. The team management will also include a team analyst, team doctor, security manager, masseur and media manager.
This series marks the beginning of Hesson’s tenure as a white-ball head coach of Pakistan Men’s cricket after he was appointed by PCB to the said role on May 13 and replaced Aqib Javed.
Mahmood, who previously had the role of bowling trainer, had expressed his interest in taking over the role and said he would apply for the position of header.
“I will definitely apply for Pakistan Team Head Training Role,” Mahmood said in an interview earlier this month. However, the board did not consider him for the crucial role.
These changes come as Pakistan is preparing to meet the Bangladesh in the T20i series, signaling a significant overhaul in the team’s baking room management.
All three T20Is will be held at Lahores Gaddafi Stadium, which starts on May 28 and ends on June 1st.
The first T20i will be played on Wednesday, the second on Friday and the final on Sunday. All matches begin at 1 p.m. 20.00 local time.
Originally, Bangladesh was scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 in two groups, with a five-match T20i series planned to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. However, logistical adjustments and security reasons led to a revised series of three matches, all that should host Lahore, after the audit of the schedule in the wake of a recent standoff between Pakistan and India.
The first group of Bangladesh Cricket team has arrived in Lahore for the three-match T20 International Series against Pakistan.
The first 10 member team includes players Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Tanvir Islam and Parvez Hossain Emon. Tanzim Hasan Sakib and members of the support staff are also part of the first batch to reach the city.
Bangladesh players are ready to arrive in three groups for the upcoming series. Both teams train at Lahores Gaddafi Stadium on May 26 and 27 in front of the opening fixture. Captains on both sides also hold a press conference before match on May 27.
PCB announced a 16-member team to the T20i series, with Salman Ali Agha named Captain and Shadab Khan as Vice-Captain. The choice is based on performances in the ongoing PSL X.
The team includes Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, SaHibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Junior and Naseem Shah. Remarkable exceptions are former Captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Umair bin Yousuf, Sufyan Muqeem and Usman Khan were also left out.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be led by Litton Das, who was named T20i -captain earlier this year after Najmul Hossain Shanto pulled down. Off-Spinner Mahedi Hasan is the vice-captain of both UAE and Pakistan trips.
