Afghanistan appoint Lawson as consultant ahead of U-19 World Cup

Karachi: Afghanistan have chosen former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson as a consultant for their under-19 team ahead of the World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia this August.

Lawson will work with the Afghanistan team after it arrives in Australia almost three weeks ahead of the event. "We approached Lawson because he has great knowledge and is a local," Bashir Stanekzai, Afghanistan Cricket Board`s high performance programme manager, told a leading daily. "We`re sending our team to Australia on July 21, well ahead of kick-off so that the players get accustomed to the conditions and the pitches. I`m sure Lawson`s input will be very useful for the youngsters," he added. Lawson has confirmed that he has accepted the offer and was looking forward to the challenge. The Afghanistan board is also in negotiations with David Dwyer, former Pakistan cricket trainer, to be part of the national squad for the 2012 World Twenty20 that will take place in Sri Lanka from September. Dwyer, who is yet to accept the offer, was part of Fiji`s squad in the 2011 Rugby World Cup but has not gone back to cricket since he left the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2010. "We`re looking to hire Dwyer as our strengthening and conditioning coach for the World Twenty20," added Stanekzai. "The negotiations are ongoing and the deal hasn`t been confirmed yet. Hopefully his arrival, and stay with the team for 60 to 70 days, will give us positive results in the big event," he said. Dwyer, meanwhile, expressed his willingness to be part of a World Cup once again but is currently weighing up the offer given the security situation in Afghanistan. ANI