PCB extends batting coach Grant Flower's contract

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has extended the contracts of the national team batting coach Grant Flower and fitness trainer Grant Luden.

Initially, the PCB had indicated that the two might be released after the tour of England as they had signed two-year contracts in June, 2014 which expired this year.

But the board had given three-month extensions to the duo for the series in England.

"The new head coach Mickey Arthur is satisfied with the work being put in by Zimbabwean Flower and South African Luden and recommended to the board to extend their contracts for one year," an official source in the board told PTI.

He said that Arthur had completed his support staff by bringing in Australians Steve Rixon and Shane Hayes as fielding coach and physiotherapist and former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach.

"The support staff is now complete in England but Mushtaq will be replaced by former test allrounder, Azhar Mahmood who will work as bowling coach for the limited over series in England," the source said.

He said Azhar had initially been given a contract for three months but would be hired for a year depending on his commitments in England and elsewhere.

Interestingly, the PCB has given a one-year working contract to Arthur with the second year dependent on the performances of the team under his supervision.

"Basically, the PCB has kept the right to release Arthur after one year if they are not satisfied with his work," the source said.

Arthur had replaced Waqar Younis as head coach after Pakistan's dismal show in the Asia Cup and World T20. Waqar stepped down after Pakistan slipped to ninth in ODI rankings and seventh in T20 rankings.