Local Media in Pakistan is reporting from sources that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is going to appoint former cricketer Yasir Arafat as the bowling and assistant coach of the national men’s cricket team. It is also being said that in the absence of Mickey Arthur, who will serve as the team’s director, Yasir will lead the coaching staff.
Earlier, the new Pakistan Cricket Board Chief, Najam Sethi, had hinted that Mickey Arthur is his first choice for coaching Pakistan. However, Arthur is already in a stint with Derbyshire and hence was not available readily to join the Pakistan team. Reports then suggested that Mickey Arthur would join the team after his contract with Derbyshire ends, but till then he will be working with the coaching staff, captain and team members online. Reportedly he was going to be given a ‘Team Director’ title for this stint.
Reportedly Mickey Arthur has suggested Yasir Araft’s name as his assistant. It’s noteworthy that Yasir recently received his level four specialist coach degree from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Yasir Arafat has played 3 Tests, 11 ODIs, and 13 T20Is for Pakistan, however he has been a utility player in English domestic cricket most of his career and has taken over 1,400 wickets and scored more than 11,000 runs in all forms of cricket. He has also got some recent coaching experience around the world, as he worked for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League and Surrey in County Cricket.
