Inzamam-ul-Haq to be Afghanistan coach

Inzamam ul Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has been roped in as the Afghanistan coach for a two-year period. This comes after the side created history by defeating Zimbabwe in their ODI and T20I series. Inzamam had agreed to be the batting consultant for the Asian side during the recent tour of 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 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 toldPTI.

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 added.

Kabir said Afghanistan had always had aggressive bowlers and fielders but they needed to improve their batting and Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 388 ODIs for Pakistan, 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 ago but he declined after financial matters between him and Pakistan Cricket Board didn’t work out.