T20 World Cup 2021: Matthew Hayden, Vernon Philander Appointed Pakistan Coaches By New PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja

Ramiz Raja, the former Pakistan captain and the newly-elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has decided to bring in foreign assistance as he has roped in Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander as coaches for the impending T20 World Cup, which starts from October 17 in Oman and the UAE.

Misbah-ul-Haq had stepped down as the head coach of Pakistan, and Waqar Younis from the position of the bowling coach earlier in the month after the selectors had announced the Pakistan squad for the mega event. The PCB then announced Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches for the New Zealand series at home which will precede the World Cup.

It might be very beneficial to have an Australian(Matthew Hayden) occupying the dressing room: Ramiz Raja

But it has been confirmed by Ramiz Raja himself that Hayden and Philander will take over the roles come to the T20 World Cup, although both the players don’t really have a significant experience of coaching an international team. A head coach also will be appointed alongside them soon.

“Matthew Hayden is Australian, and has experience of winning World Cups and was a great player himself. It might be very beneficial to have an Australian occupying the dressing room. And Pakistan, of course, can win the World Cup, they just need to improve their performances an extra 10%,” the new PCB boss said of Hayden.

“Vernon Philander I know very well, and he understands bowling, and has a great record against Australia,” he added.

The next T20 World Cup will be played in Australia next year before the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.

Babar Azam’s team is clubbed alongside India, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and two other teams who will qualify from Round 1, in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage. They take on arch-rivals India on October 24 in Dubai. Before that Pakistan will host New Zealand and England for white-ball matches.

Ramiz Raja has been appointed for a 3-year term, in a Special Meeting on Monday (September 13). He was nominated for the position by Imran Khan, the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper and the patron-in-chief of the PCB.

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