Former Pakistan skipper Raja named new PCB chairman


(MENAFN- Gulf Times) • Raja names Hayden and Philander AS coaches for T20 World Cup

Pakistan's Cricket Board (PCB) elected former captain Ramiz Raja as its new chairman yesterday, and hours later announced former Australian opener Matthew Hayden would be a batting coaching consultant for next month's Twenty20 World Cup.
Raja, 59, a former national opener himself, was elected unopposed to replace Ehsan Mani whose three-year tenure ended last month, a Pakistan Cricket Board statement said.
He played 57 Tests and 198 one-day internationals for Pakistan between 1984 and 1997.
In his first press conference, Raja announced that Hayden and South African former international Vernon Philander had respectively been appointed batting and bowling coaching consultants ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai and Oman.
“I think Hayden will bring an Australian touch of aggression in the Pakistan team and I personally know Philander who can also bring a positive change,” said Raja.
Their appointments come after coaches Misbah

    Haq and Waqar Younis both stepped down last week, citing personal reasons and mental stress as a result of the Covid-19 biosecure environment surrounding fixtures and tours. Hayden, 49, played 103 Tests, 161 ODIs and nine T20 internationals for Australia but has never coached at the highest level.
    He was partly involved as a batting consultant for the Australian team on a few occasions, notably on India's tour in 2019.
    Philander, 36, migrated to Britain in 2020 after playing 64 Tests, 30 ODIs and seven Twenty20 internationals for South Africa. He is known as a master of swing bowling.
    Pakistan will start a three-match one-day international series against New Zealand in Rawalpindi from Friday, followed by five Twenty20 internationals in Lahore.
    For the New Zealand series, Pakistan will have former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq as interim coach and former allrounder Abdul Razzaq as his assistant.
    It is likely that Saqlain will continue as head coach for the World Cup, an announcement of which is likely in the next few days. Pakistan will open their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against archrivals India in Dubai on October 24.



    Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi bowls as team's interim bowling coach Abdul Razzaq looks on during a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday. (AFP)



    New Zealand's players attend a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday, ahead of their first ODI against Pakistan. (AFP)

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