Manoj Prabhakar roped in as Afghanistan bowling coach

Former Indian all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar has been roped in by Afghanistan national team as its bowling coach. Prabhakar, who played 39 Tests and 130 One-day Internationals, will assist head coach, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Prabhakar’s appointment is until the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India from March 11 to April 3, 2016.

Prabhakar, who was one of the leading swing bowlers in Indian team during 1990’s, last coached Delhi Ranji team in 2011-12 before he was sacked.

“I am glad I can guide the Afghan team. They have immense talent and I am sure, in the years to come, the Afghanistan team would emerge as a force to reckon with in all forms of the game. They have shown a healthy keenness to learn the finer points of the game,” Prabhakar

Afghanistan are grouped with Scotland, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe in Group B of the World Twenty20 qualifiers. One of the four teams will make it to Group 1 to join England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies for the Super 10 stage.

Prabhakar also informed that the proposed four-match limited overs series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will now take place in Dubai instead of Greater Noida.

“I don’t know the reasons but the series will now happen in Dubai instead of Greater Noida. I have applied for my visa and as soon as I get it, I will join Inzy and the senior team in Dubai. I am very hopeful that ‘our team’ will do well in the upcoming World T20. Afghanistan will surely produce some future stars,” said Prabhakar. he added