LAHORE:The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its coaching staff for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand at home. The board has appointed Grant Bradburn as the interim head coach of the team, while Abdul Rehman will be the assistant head coach. Andrew Puttick and Umar Gul will be the batting and bowling coaches, respectively.
Officials said he appointments are not permanent, and the PCB would name the permanent coaches after the series against New Zealand.
In a statement, the PCB said, “Mr Bradburn and Mr Puttick have been appointed for the New Zealand series and will arrive in Lahore on 11 April. The PCB will confirm the Pakistan team management for post-New Zealand series following the completion of the relevant recruitment processes, which are presently ongoing.”
The five-match T20I and five-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand will start on April 14 in Lahore. The series will witness the return of several experienced Pakistan stars, including the ace pacer Shaheen Afridi.
The appointment of the coaching staff is seen as a step towards strengthening the team ahead of the crucial series against New Zealand. The interim head coach, Grant Bradburn, has previously served as the head coach of Scotland and has also worked as an assistant coach with Pakistan. The PCB will hope that his experience will help the team in the upcoming series.
Analysts believe Pakistan will be looking to put up a strong performance against New Zealand, who have been in excellent form in recent times. The series promises to be an exciting one, with both teams having a lot to play for.
