Foreign coach appointed for Pakistan women cricket team

LAHORE: Kiwi coach Mark Coles will take charge as coach of Pakistan women cricket team ahead of a series against New Zealand next month, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi confirmed on Monday.

The newly appointed coach will reach Lahore in early October for a training camp, before heading to Dubai for the series against New Zealand women.

His appointment has come after the suggestion of Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur to PCB, New Zealand media reported.

Coles has held several coaching jobs in New Zealand’s Northern Districts region and is currently on leave to pursue his international interests.

According to Coles, there are simple things that need working on.

“I think they just lost the big moments in those games. They played well, but when the big moments came they couldn’t get the job done,” a foreign media website quoted him as saying.

“Obviously the public just want them to win, like any international team. The team has been developing really nicely so hopefully, we can continue that,” he added.

Coles said the latest coaching gig will help his career as a coach, and he hopes to help improve a group of players who are on the rise in women’s cricket.

He will be replacing Sabih Azhar, who coached the national women team during the recent World Cup.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan had lost all seven matches it played during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in June.

Following the winless world cup campaign, the PCB resolved to make drastic changes. The move is being deemed part of it.