PCB announce Grant Bradburn as interim head coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, April 7 announced the coaching staff that will manage the side ahead of the forthcoming New Zealand series. Notably, Grant Bradburn will lead the staff as the interim head coach and is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on April 11 to take over the new role. 

The nation's cricket board is yet to make an official announcement of the new, full member-coaching panel. The management will decide following the conclusion of the New Zealand series after the relevant recruitment process, which is presently ongoing.

Former South Africa international, Andrew Puttick too will take the reins of the national cricket team as the batting coach. PCB confirmed that the board is finalizing the names that will take over the new project after the series against the Kiwis in a media release.

"The PCB will confirm the Pakistan team management for the post-New Zealand series following the completion of the relevant recruitment processes, which is presently ongoing," read the PCB statement as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bradburn previously served as Pakistan’s fielding coach in 2018 and then as the Head of High-Performance coaching. He later stepped down from the position in 2021 after Ramiz Raja became the president of the PCB.

Umar Gul to serve as bowling coach

The board also retained the services of former Pakistan pacer, Umar Gul as the bowling coach of the national team. Adding to this, Abdul Rehman has been named as the ‘assistant to head coach’ ahead of the series.

The duo served in coaching capacities in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The Men in Green play five T20Is and as many ODI matches against New Zealand, starting on April 14 and will conclude with the final 50-over match on May 7.

Pakistan coaching staff for NZ series- Rehan Ul Haq (manager), Grant Bradburn (head coach), Abdul Rehman (assistant to head coach), Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Umar Gul (bowling coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaimon (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Major (retd.) Azhar Arif (security manager), Dr. Najeeb Soomro (team doctor), and Malang Ali (masseur).