As the high-performance coach for Pakistan’s forthcoming five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand in January, Yasir Arafat is expected to join the team. He takes over for current high-performance coach Simon Helmot, who is absent due to personal obligations. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to add Arafat quite late, and he would immediately work with the team’s T20I experts in New Zealand.
For the time being, Yasir Arafat task with the national team is limited to the forthcoming series against New Zealand.
Despite playing in just one match during the tournament, the 41-year-old, a former Pakistani cricketer with 27 international appearances (13 T20Is) and coaching experience in both New Zealand and England, was a member of Pakistan’s victorious 2009 T20 World Cup side.
Pakistan’s temporary adjustments during a major transformation
Another change since Mohammad Hafeez replaced Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn as Pakistan’s team director and head coach for their Australian tour was the coaching staff. Although they are still on the PCB roster, Bradburn and Arthur did not go to Australia and have not yet been given new positions within the setup.
Other interim coaches appointed after Hafeez’s appointment were Umar Gul for fast-bowling, Saeed Ajmal for spin-bowling, Adam Hollioake for batting, and Helmot for high-performance. Because the PCB arrangement was in an interim state while actual elections were held, the appointments were only temporary. The temporary structure does not have the power to appoint long-term personnel.
The coaching staff changes signaled a period of transition for Pakistani cricket, as the PCB is being run under an interim arrangement until official elections are held. The next Twenty20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand will start on January 12 and last until January 21.
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