PCB appoints David Reid as mental performance coach

In addition to the Pakistan cricket team’s newly formed management, David Reid has been appointed as the mental performance coach. This marks the first initiative by the Pakistan Cricket Board to have considered hiring a performance coach. The board has also roped in Simon Helmot as the fielding coach for the side. Previously, Gary Kirsten joined as the white ball coach of the team and is expected to join the squad in England on May 19.

Reid has been working with the Chennai Super Kings since 2021 as the mental and skill conditioning coach. He also works with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. He will join the Pakistan team for the T20I series in England and the T20 World Cup in the Americas in June.

“The PCB, on the recommendation of the team management, has added Simon Helmot [fielding coach] and David Reid [mental performance coach] to the player support personnel for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” the PCB said in its media release.

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“Reid will join the side on May 20, while Helmot will team up with the national side on May 31. Aftab Khan, who is presently serving the side as the fielding coach, will assume responsibilities of High-Performance Coach following the arrival of Helmot,” the PCB statement added.

Gary Kirsten to fly to Leeds after IPL 2024 duties

Former Australia pacer, Jason Gillespie was inducted as the red-ball coach for the Pakistan men’s team. It is worth noting that, neither Kirsten nor Gillespie have physically present with the team yet. While Kirsten is coaching Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024, Gillespie will assume services for Pakistan’s home Test series against Bangladesh, which will be his first assignment.

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“Gary Kirsten will join the national men’s side in Leeds on May 19 to commence his two-year tenure as the white-ball head coach. Kirsten’s arrival will be three days prior to the start of the four-match T20I series against England at Headingley on May 22. The series will be followed by the ICC T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean,” the PCB announced.