The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday appointed of former Test captain Mohammad Yousuf as head coach of Pakistan U19.

Yousuf’s first assignments in the role include the Asian Cricket Council U19 Asia Cup 2023 in the UAE from December 8 to 17 and the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup in Sri Lanka from January 13 to February 4.

“I am eagerly looking forward to the upcoming U19 Asia Cup and ICC U19 World Cup tournaments, which are crucial to the players’ growth and we will be aiming to do our best in these events,” Yousuf said according to a statement by the PCB.

Yousuf has previously served as batting coach of the Pakistan Men’s Team and at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

“Having had the privilege of working with the senior men’s side, I will bring my coaching experience to the U19 set-up, providing a nurturing environment for the young talents to thrive and make a mark on the international level,” he said.

The newly appointed coach said that harnessing the skills of young players is crucial for Pakistan cricket. “I am dedicated to fulfilling my responsibility in helping identify, improve and nurture future stars.”

Yousuf has scored 7,530 Test and 9,720 ODI runs in a career spanning from 1998 to 2010 and holds the record for the most Test runs in a calendar year when he amassed 1788 runs in the format in 2006.