Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, former Australian World-Cup winning coach John Buchanan and ex-Indian Test pacer Venkatesh Prasad are the latest signings on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) coach roster, a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated here on Wednesday.
“With the addition of a wide variety of coaches, the PSL has managed to attract the best of the best in the business,” said the release.
Jayasuriya, who played 110 Tests, 445 ODIs and 31 T20 Internationals in a long and illustrious career, follows his former team-mate Chaminda Vaas on the PSL coach roster. The Sri Lankan legend — known for his explosive batting in limited-overs cricket — has also served as Sri Lanka chief selector.
Buchanan, the man who successfully coached the 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning Australia, has also signed up with the PSL. After parting ways with the Australian team, Buchanan worked in the IPL and with New Zealand Cricket.
Bangalore’s Prasad, another PSL coach signing, has in the past worked as bowling coach with Indian team.
“Sport has no barriers and that is what cricket has offered to different leagues globally. I am proud to be involved with the PSL,” said Prasad in a video message after signing up with the PSL.
Other new signings include Australians Dean Jones, Steve Rixon and Simon Helmot, England’s Mick Newell and Ian Pont and South Africa’s David Nosworthy and Dale Benkenstein.
“As promised, we have closely followed up on this key deliverable of ensuring that top coaches are on board the PSL ship. You will see names such as Buchanan and Jayasuriya in this list and, naturally, this means that the PSL is associated with quality,” said Najam Sethi, chairman of the PSL governing council.
All coaches who have signed up on the PSL coach roster will go through a selection process in which franchises will choose their coaching panels.
Top foreign players such as Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, James Anderson and Dwayne Bravo have already signed up on an impressive player roster including top local and foreign names.
The inaugural PSL takes place from Feb 4-24 next year in Dubai and Sharjah, with five teams set to take part.
APP adds: Test captain Alastair Cook plus his team-mates pacer James Anderson and batsman Ian Bell are among the England players who could appear in the PSL.
Bell and Anderson have both signed agreements confirming their appearance in the competition’s draft, while Cook has been in talks with the organisers for some time but has yet to confirm his involvement.
The dates of the tournament will prevent members of England’s white-ball squad taking part in the PSL as they will be required for the South Africa series but several other England-qualified players — including Luke Wright, Monty Panesar, Tim Bresnan, Jade Dernbach, Ravi Bopara and Michael Carberry — are also expected to appear in the draft.
(Dawn)
