"It Doesn't Matter": Former Pakistan Bowler Azhar Mahmood On Coaching England

Azhar Mahmood was roped in by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last week to support bowling coach Jon Lewis during the three-T20I series against Pakistan and has started to prepare the players. Mahmood holds a British citizenship and professionally it does not matters to him which country he is coaching.

Mahmood represented Pakistan in 143 ODIs and is seeing the professional side of things. He said that cricket has given him a lot and now he wants to pass back his experience. It also doesn’t matters to him, which side he is representing, as he only wants the players to grow.

“Cricket has given me alot ,” Mahmood told AFP. “Now I want to pass my experience — it doesn’t matter whether a player is from Pakistan or England”.

“I’m a professional, I’ve played in leagues with different teams,” he explained. “I know my role,” he added.

The T20I series opener was washed out. The second match of the series will be played at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday while the final tie will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.

Mahmood has picked up 123 ODI wickets at an an average over 39. He has three five-wicket haul to his name and bowled at an economy rate of 4.62.