Pakistan Cricket Update: Matthew Hayden of Australia and Vernon Philander of South Africa have been appointed as Pakistan's batting and bowling coaches for the T20 World Cup, respectively. After head coach Misbah ul Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis stepped down, the former players were hired.
The news came shortly after Ramiz Raza was named as Pakistan Cricket Board's 36th chairman (PCB). Pakistan will seek advice from veterans with extensive experience playing in subcontinent circumstances.
Speaking on Hayden, Raja said: -The Australian can bring some aggression into the team. He has experience of World Cups and was a world-class player himself. Having an Australian in the dressing room will be of great benefit for us.- About Philander he said, -I know him well, he understands the nuances of bowling and he has a great record.-
Hayden, who has also served on the coaching staff of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), is regarded as one of the finest players in the game's history. He represented Australia in 103 Tests, 161 One-Day Internationals, and nine Twenty-20 Internationals, scoring 8625, 6133, and 308 runs in total. He was also a member of the World Cup winning squads in 2003 and 2007.
Meanwhile, Philander, who will retire from cricket in 2020, is a well-known figure in live international cricket. In his international career, the pacer took over 250 wickets. The PCB would be hoping that the new appointments will assist the players in improving their weaknesses and guiding Pakistan to their second T20 World Cup victory.
Soon after it was announced that Ramiz Raja will replace Waqar Younis as PCB chairman, both he and Misbah ul Haq stood down from their positions. Raja has previously chastised the couple for their inadequate tutoring methods.
Pakistan will play New Zealand in three live ODIs and five Twenty-20 Internationals before the main tournament in the UAE. The Men in Green will be eager to get some traction ahead of the World Cup.
The series begins on September 17th with an ODI, followed by matches in Rawalpindi on September 19 and 21. The T20Is will be held in Lahore on September 25, 26, 29, 30, 1 and 3 respectively.