Former Zimbabwe captain and vastly experienced cricket coach Andy Flower has been named as Afghanistan consultant for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be held from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced Flower’s appointment on Saturday, October 9, and also revealed that he has joined the Afghanistan national team bubble ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021.
Notably, Flower previously coached England from 2009 to 2014 and helped the team win the ICC T20 World Cup trophy in 2010, as well as guided them to an Ashes victory 3-0 against Australia in 2013. He was also awarded the 2011 Coach of the Year in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
He also served as England and Wales Cricket Board's “Technical Director of Elite Coaching” and then the U-19 team’s head coach. The Zimbabwean also worked with several franchisees in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), The Hundred, and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Considering his huge coaching experience both at the highest level and T20 leagues, ACB feel Flower’s experience will help Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE and Oman.
ACB chairman Azizullah Fazli said in a statement: “We are delighted that Andy has joined ACB. Andy has worked with a number of our players in various franchise completions and his vast experience will be very beneficial and useful to help the team in the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan team left for Qatar from Kabul on October 6 and they have started their training, but they haven’t yet get visas for the UAE.
Afghanistan captain Mohammed Nabi stated: “The team has started training in Qatar to adjust with the weather. They are waiting for the UAE visas and everyone is prepared for the World Cup.”
Noteworthy, Flower played 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe before starting his coaching career with England.
(With PTI Inputs)
