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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Coaching Development Programme, in conjunction with the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) delivered a series of face-to-face Coach Development events in Barbados from March 25 to 27. The events were aimed to upskill, assess and accredit local coaches and coach developers from the CWI Level 1 to Level 3 coaching programmes to support the West Indies Cricket Pathway.

In its promise to lift coaching standards, over the past three years CWI has delivered 552 new coaching certificates across eight Caribbean countries – 93 at Level 2, 129 at Level 1, and 330 at the Foundation Level. 16 CWI Coach Developers have also been trained to deliver Level 1 Courses locally.

A total of 25 participants took part in the face-to-face components of the CWI Competition Coaching Course (Level 1) and the CWI Representative Coaching Programme (Level 2) which were held concurrently at Kensington Oval. Among the coaches who completed the courses were West Indies players Dwayne Smith, Kirk Edwards, Shane Dowrich, Shayne Moseley and Charlene Taitt with a total of five female coaches participating along with several current and former first-class players.

Both cohorts participated in separate online modules throughout March covering theoretical aspects of coaching in preparation for the face-to-face part of the programme which covered practical modules such as biomechanics, skill acquisition, applied coaching and game sense.

CWI Coach Development Manager, Chris Brabazon shared his thoughts on the events.

“Initiatives like this are part of the CWI strategy to make Coach Development opportunities more accessible and inclusive for anyone who would like to learn more about coaching and then use that training to actively grow the game in their communities. The BCA did a fantastic job in promoting the courses and assisting with the delivery. In particular Coach Developers Rohan Nurse, Robin Paris and Hendy Springer who are now able to present future Level 1 courses around Barbados as required. Also, the support from our UWI Coach Developers continues to be excellent in the development and delivery of our Level 2 and Level 3 coaching Programmes,” he said.

Dowrich said: “The course was very productive. I learnt a lot over the last couple of weeks, which included the online modules. It has been very interesting and opened my mind to a lot of things I haven’t been thinking about as a cricketer. It’s good to have the theory side and also looking at how to apply that to the practical side, which we did here at Kensington. The education in this programme is critical and will help to improve cricket in the Caribbean.”

Brabazon was also able to observe local coaches who are taking part in CWI’s first ever locally delivered Level 3 Coaching Programme. Jamal Smith and Corey Yearwood are taking part in the ongoing 12-month programme and were observed during their respective coaching sessions at Kensington Oval and Pickwick Cricket Club.

To find out more about CWI’s Coaching Development Programme and getting involved in coaching and to request a coaching development information pack from CWI, please email cwi@cricketwestindies.org

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There will be no spectators in the stadium due to Corona. The England West Indies Test series is also being played without spectators.

Mushtaq Ahmed, the spin bowling coach of the national cricket team, said that the tour was taking place under extraordinary circumstances. There were no spectators to encourage the players and no media representatives to analyze them. To be and to encourage each other to the fullest.

“One of the most important responsibilities of the team management in the tour of England is that we have to pay special attention to the mental strength of the players,” he said.

The bowling coach said that the enthusiasm and passion of the players who turned to the ground after three and a half months is noticeable, all the boys in the squad are very enthusiastic and they are busy practicing the net with full dedication.

Mushtaq Ahmed said that the players are being made fully aware of Corona’s protocols which include keeping distance from the ground and not spitting the ball as in the past spinners usually spit the ball with spit but in these cases alternative options are not available. Attempts are being made to make it a complete part of the memory.

He said that the most welcome process is that all the players in the national squad and the support staff are giving full encouragement to each other, it is certain that the return of the players in the game will be beneficial.

The Pakistan cricket team is currently quarantining in the bio-secure environment of Worcester where it is engaged in various training sessions and intra-squad practice matches under the supervision of head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.

The Pakistan team, which is in England for a series of three Tests and three T20 matches starting on August 5, will leave for Derbyshire on July 13 after spending 14 days in quarantine.

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So that every player can be told according to his level, a lot has been learned after retirement, an effort will be made to benefit the players not only from cricket but also from life experiences.

In a video conference with the media after joining the management of the Pakistan cricket team, Younis Khan said that the England series is always difficult, he will try to teach the players how to play big innings while staying within their limits. And how to convert a century into a double and a triple century.

Younis Khan said that he would not make the excuse that there was limited time so he could not do anything. If he has to work, one day is enough.

Younis Khan, who has scored the most Test runs for Pakistan, said that he has been impressed by Bob Woolmer’s style in coaching and will try to teach the team’s batsmen in this style.

He said that in three years he has shown great humility and he guarantees that no one in the coaching staff will have an ego problem.

Younis Khan said that he always listened to the criticism with restraint and then responded to the criticism by improving his game with aggression and that was the reason why he achieved a lot in his career but what he achieved in his cricket career. That is part of the past.

To a question, the former captain said that Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq had heavy responsibilities after his and Misbah’s retirement. As a coach, he will try to play a role in making them mentally stronger .

Younis Khan said that the job of coaches is to facilitate the players, it is not appropriate to compare Babar Azam with Kohli at present.

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The National Cricket Academy Lahore has now been transformed into a High Performance Center. Along with Director High Performance Nadeem Khan, former off-spinner and second inventor Saqlain Mushtaq has been appointed as Head of International Player Development and Grant Bradburn as Head of High Performance Coaching.

After Nadeem Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq has also taken over his responsibilities at the High Performance Center.

Saqlain Mushtaq says it is an honor to be associated with Pakistan cricket once again, when he was young it was always a passion to play for Pakistan and to serve Pakistan, now once again The same passion is to come inside the ground, this opportunity has come and I think I am lucky to be associated with Pakistan cricket again.

The inventor of the second said that a good vision has been created for player development, bringing players from the grass root level and refining the existing players.

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West Indian cricketer and Peshawar Zalmi stalwart Darren Sammy has been appointed the new head coach of the club while right-arm pacer Wahab Riaz will now be leading the squad, according to an official statement from the club.

The swashbuckling all-rounder, who has been playing for the “Yellow Storm” since the very first edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was appointed the head coach of the club.

Mohammad Akram has been appointed the new bowling coach as well as Director Cricket of the club.

“Sammy has been with Zalmi for five seasons now,” said Akram, holding a joint press conference with Sammy. “He will continue playing for the club as well. Wahab Riaz will be the captain of the team for its remaining matches.”

Sammy said that he had always tried to play his best game and advised other members of Zalmi to do the same. He said that as a cricketer, every moment was filled with challenges.

Zalmi’s new head coach said he wanted young players to perform well for the team. The all-rounder said he wanted to perform for the team in a new role altogether. “I want to thank the team management and coaches,” he said.

Akram said that the West Indian will remain the team’s coach for the next two years. “He should be named Darren Zalmi now,” he joked.

Akram said that Sammy will perform as a head coach and player at the same time. “Sammy’s services as captain [of Zalmi] are brilliant,” he said. “Pakistanis love him.”

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COLOMBO:South African Mickey Arthur has been named Sri Lanka’s head coach, replacing Chandika Hathurusingha, who was stripped of his coaching responsibilities following a disappointing World Cup, an official source said Wednesday.

The 51-year-old takes over ahead of the two-match Test series against Pakistan later this month, the official said, adding that a formal announcement was expected shortly.

Details of the two-year contract were not immediately available, but three others are also due to join him in rebuilding the Sri Lankan coaching department, the source said.

The others are Grant Flower as batting coach, David Saker in charge of bowling and Shane McDermott handling fielding.

Hathurusingha and his assistants came under under fire after Sri Lanka’s disappointing World Cup, where they finished in sixth-place.
Hathurusingha remains officially employed with his contract valid for another year, but without any duties.

Fernando had said that there were international candidates to replace Hathurusingha who were asking for lower salaries of between $17,500 to $25,000 a month.

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DUBAI: Karachi Kings and Pakistan Coach Mickey Arthur validated the possibility that in future Imad Wasim can be the captain of the national side but immediately added that as long as he is coaching he will be having Sarfraz Ahmed as captain in all three formats of the game.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, he said: “In future Imad Wasim probably can be Pakistan’s captain, but Saffy is entrenched in of all forms of the game and as long as I am coaching Pakistan I am going to have Sarfraz Ahmed with me.”

Responding to a question, the Pakistan coach said that instantly after the Pakistan Super League tournament the national team will be facing ‘big challenges’.

“Straight after that we will be going into T20s with the West Indies. I have got a very clear picture in my mind about the t20 side, world cup side and the test side. We are going to take medical test, fitness test straight after the West Indies series,” he said. “Whether there will be one or two players from PSL, I am not sure.”

He announced that the test squad against upcoming series against England will be cut down to 15 after fitness test in Lahore.

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Lahore:PCB has appointed Mr. Mark Coles as head-coach Pakistan’s women cricket team for two years. Mark Coles had worked with Pakistan’s women team during Pakistan vs New Zealand women series in the UAE, recently.

Mark Coles brief sporting history:

Mark was a member of the Wellington squad in 1992 and played six ‘A’ list games for Wellington. He had worked as an assistant coach with New Zealand ‘A’ Women’s team in year 2000 and recently with Pakistan’s women team in the UAE. He also coached the Wellington Blaze to a T20 title in 2013, as well as being part of the Northern Districts High Performance coaching staff from 2014.

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Leicestershire have made a double Pakistan pace bowler signing for the 2018 season, with Paul Nixon beginning his tenure as head coach by bringing in Mohammad Abbas and Sohail Khan to share overseas player duties.

Abbas, 27, has made a good impression since his Test debut last year, taking 23 wickets at 21.34 in five matches. He will be available for Leicestershire’s first Championship match, starting on April 20, and then again from mid-June – given his likely involvement with Pakistan’s tour of England and Ireland during the first half of the season.

Sohail, an experienced seamer who has played all three formats for Pakistan and claimed Test five-fors at Edgbaston and The Oval in 2016, will deputise while Abbas is away. He could feature in four Championship games, as well as Leicestershire’s Royal London Cup campaign.

“We have been looking for a quality fast bowler as our overseas professional and Mohammad Abbas ticks all of the boxes,” Nixon said. “His Test match record is different class, he is the new kid on the block, and I am delighted to secure his signature.

“But we expect to be without Mohammad for the first part of the season and it was vital that we secured high-class cover. Sohail Khan has a superb record both in red- and white-ball cricket, he has good experience on English conditions, and really stood out on the last tour when Pakistan played here. Sohail’s bowling will be ideally suited to early season conditions here.”

Leicestershire finished bottom of the Championship in 2017, for the fourth time in five seasons, and replaced coach Pierre de Bruyn after less than a year in charge. Clint McKay, who had spent three seasons as Leicestershire’s overseas player, was also not asked to return.

Nixon, the former England international and long-serving former player at Leicestershire, was appointed to try and build on the work started by chief executive Wasim Khan. In 2015, Leicestershire won their first Championship fixture in almost three years, while the following season they improved enough to finish seventh in Division Two – although they have still faced criticism for their recruitment policies.

Abbas follows in the footsteps of recent Pakistan internationals to sign for Leicestershire, such as Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq. His first-class record is impressive, with 304 wickets at 21.05, and he is also expected to play in the T20 Blast, filling one of the two overseas slots.

“I am really pleased to be joining Leicestershire County Cricket Club for the 2018 season,” he said. “It has been a dream of mine to play in county cricket and I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and working with head coach Paul Nixon and the staff.”

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