The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Steve Rixon as the fielding coach of the team for the Test and ODI series of Pakistan in England. Rixon is a former Australian wicketkeeper.
Rixon is appointed as the member of support staff team for Pakistan’s tour of England. The new coach Micky Arthur has recommended Arthur’s name for the job. Arthur was brought as Pakistan coach after Waqar Younis has resigned after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinal in the World T20 2016.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was named as the Pakistan’s bowling coach for the Test series which will start from 3rd July. After the Test series, Azar Mahmood will take over the rein for the limited over series.
Ahmed was Pakistan’s full time bowling coach across the formats, but he was rested before the Asia Cup T20 2015 and World T20 in India owning to his tiredness.
“We have appointed Rixon as fielding coach, Mushtaq Ahmed as bowling coach for Tests, Azhar Mahmood (bowling coach) for the limited over series,” said a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman.
Pakistan has been in good form in Test cricket, but they have struggled at the wet wicket of England.
In the last series Pakistan have defeated England in the United Arab Emirates-Pakistan’s adopted home that helped them to keep their rank 3 in ICC ranking paradigm.
Pakistan in 2015 also defeated Sri Lanka going at their home, due to Younis Khan and Yasir Shah’s outstanding performances.
England bowlers will pose a tough challenge for the Pakistan batsmen. Former Pakistan batsman Selim Malik said that Pakistan will struggle in England as they practice at flat pitches.
Pakistan in recent time has made a couple of changes to change the cricket culture in the country.
Inzamam-ul-Haq has become the head selector and former ICC Academy head Mudassar Nazar has been appointed as the head National Cricket Academy.
Meanwhile, Rixon was earlier the fielding coach of Australia in 2011 long before Arthur became coach of the side.
“I am not getting into a slinging match…I have very little respect for the organisation (Cricket Australia), so I think we best just leave it there,” Rixon had told Sky Sports Radio then.
“I don’t like a lot of things they do. They interfere basically with a lot of the cricket decisions over the period of time and I don’t necessarily agree with that. It’s not in my business. At the end of the day, I do what I do, I go out and do it to the best I know how. But it’s probably just draining and the one thing I have lived my cricket lift with is a major passion for the game.”
The Australian was also a part of now suspended IPL side Chennai Super Kings.
The Pakistan team will leave for England on June 18. They will train at Hampshire and play their first tour game against Somerset from July 3. They will play another tour match against Sussex, before taking on England at the Lord’s.