Former Pakistan speedster Yasir Arafat has been named the high-performance coach of the Men in Green side for their T20I tour of New Zealand. He will replace Simon Helmot in the role.
As per reports, Arafat will fly directly to New Zealand with Pakistan's T20I specialists and has been assigned to the national side for just that one series for the moment. Helmot had been named as part of the coaching staff for the ongoing Australia series, but according to a PCB source, he has personal commitments.
Arafat, who has previous coaching experience in New Zealand as well as in England, played 27 international matches, including 13 T20Is, and was a part of Pakistan's victorious 2009 T20 World Cup squad, though he played just one game in the tournament.
This marks another change in Pakistan's coaching staff after the ICC World Cup 2023 debacle. Mohammad Hafeez was given the role of team director and head coach for Pakistan's tour of Australia, replacing Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn.
Umar Gul was announced as the fast-bowling coach, Saeed Ajmal as the spin-bowling coach, Adam Hollioake as the batting coach, and Helmot the high-performance coach.
Because of the circumstances - this is an interim PCB set-up, and formal elections have not yet been held; it lacks the constitutional capacity to make long-term appointments - all of those appointments have to be short-term.
The T20I series against New Zealand begins on January 12, with the final game on January 21.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
