Grant Bradburn to stand in as Pakistan coach for New Zealand series

Andrew Puttick takes over as batting coach

Web Desk

07 Apr, 2023

Sports

In this file photo, Grant Bradburn, wearing the official Pakistan team blazer, poses for a photo. Photo via Twitter/@Beagleboy172

Former New Zealand cricketer will stand in as head coach for Pakistan’s five T20I and five ODI matches against Black Caps this month, the country’s cricket board, which is pronounced by its abbreviation PCB, said on Friday.

“Mr Bradburn and Mr Puttick have been appointed for the New Zealand series and will arrive in Lahore on 11 April,” the PCB said in a statement.

The Najam Sethi-led board would confirm the Pakistan team management for the post-New Zealand series following the completion of the recruitment processes, which are presently ongoing.

Bradburn, 56, played seven Tests and 11 one-day internationals for New Zealand before taking up coaching. He was previously the head coach of Scotland and worked with Pakistan as the fielding coach between 2018 and 2020.

The five-match T20 International series would begin on April 14 in Lahore, culminating on April 24 in Rawalpindi. The two sides would then head to Karachi on May 3 before playing two matches in Rawalpindi of the ODI series, beginning on April 27.

The over 20 days tour would end on May 7 in Karachi where the teams would play the last match of the ODI series.

The hosts have called in its regular players and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the series after losing the T20I series against Afghanistan in UAE.

This is New Zealand’s second tour to Pakistan, part of its decision to “make up” for the September 2021 abandoned tour in September last year, hours before the first match was scheduled to begin.

Sethi, who heads the panel governing the Pakistan Cricket Board’s affairs till a chairman is elected, in the past has hinted at bringing former South Africa-Australian cricketer Mickey Arthur for the head coach role.

Arthur had led the Green Shirts to win its first-ever Champions Trophy in 2017, making it memorable for his side that defeated archrivals India in the final.

“I never closed Mickey Arthur’s chapter and it hasn’t been closed so far as well. I am in negotiations, personally, with Mickey and I think 90 per cent of the distance has been covered hopefully, very soon, we may give you the news that Mickey will be joining us. But as of now, it’s not settled, there are still some issues,” Sethi said at a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore earlier this year.