Inzamam-ul-Haq to be Afghanistan coach for two years

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq has agreed to carry on working with the Afghanistan cricket team as coach for a two-year period after tasting success with the side in Zimbabwe.

Kabir Khan, the former coach of the Afghanistan team who is a national selector in Pakistan, said Inzamam had agreed to sign a proper two-year coaching contract with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

“I spoke to Inzamam and he has accepted a two-year contract with the Afghanistan team which will do them a lot of good,” Kabir told PTI.

Kabir, who worked for several years with the Afghanistan team and supervised their rise in international cricket, said Inzamam had enjoyed his experience as batting coach in Zimbabwe.

“Inzamam is satisfied with what he saw in Zimbabwe and believes that the Afghanistan team has good cricket talent and can move ahead,” Kabir said.

Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 388 ODIs for Pakistan, agreed to be batting consultant for the recent tour of Zimbabwe where Afghanistan scored a historic series win.

Kabir said Afghanistan had always had aggressive bowlers and fielders but they needed to improve their batting and Inzamam was ideal for them.

“Inzamam is a cricket great and he can do a lot to improve their batting standards. And his calibre and stature is such he will remain above any petty politics which have hurt Afghanistan cricket,” he said.

Inzamam was also offered a similar position with the Pakistan team two years back but he declined after financial matters between him and the Pakistan Cricket Board didn’t work out.

PTI