Andy Flower lands coaching role in Pakistan

Former England coach Andy Flower on Thursday confirmed his participation in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as mentor of the Peshawar franchise.

Earlier this week it was reported that Peshawar franchise in the PSL has roped in Flower for the role of a batting coach.

Flower, who is also the coach of the England Lions, revealed that he has taken the permission of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) before signing the deal with Peshawar.

“I’ve been approached to do some batting coaching for Peshawar, one of the franchises in the new Pakistan Super League,” Flower told ecb.co.uk.

“I’m looking forward to doing something different.

“I have chatted with Andrew Strauss about whether that is OK from an ECB perspective and he says it is on the basis that it is good for our English coaches to get out and about amongst some of these Twenty20 franchise competitions,

“to learn what is happening outside of the domestic game in England, to interact with some of the international coaches and players, and to bring some of that knowledge back into our game in England.

“It’s only a three-week tournament, not six weeks or two months, so we’re comfortable with me taking leave for that period.”

As a player for Zimbabwe, Flower toured Pakistan between 1993 and 1998 to play seven Test matches and nine One-day Internationals.

Stating that it was a good experience playing in Pakistan, Flower hoped that international cricket can return to the country in the near future.

“I toured Pakistan a number of times as a player, and I think it is really sad that we are not playing international cricket in Pakistan.

“Of course there are good reasons for that but the sooner we get back playing in Pakistan the better.

“I really enjoyed my tours anywhere in Asia and Pakistan was no different.

“We toured some fascinating places.

“Obviously the main cities but also we got out to Peshawar, we played a Test up there, we also played in Quetta, and I always found it fascinating observing another culture.”

Flower feels that it will be an interesting experience to work with the Pakistan players and the rest of the coaching staff in the PSL.

“I think I am really going to find it interesting being in amongst a group of Pakistani players and coaches, with a few international players there.

“I am really looking forward to seeing how they do things, learning about them, and that should be a fascinating aspect of the three weeks or a month that were together.”

Former Australian coach Mickey Arthur and former batsman Dean Jones were also named as the head coaches for the Islamabad and Karachi franchises respectively.

Source: Cricket World