Afghanistan’s legendary fast bowler Hamid Hassan has been appointed as the national team’s bowling coach – effective almost immediately.
Hassan will step into the role of bowling coach during Afghanistan’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan scheduled for later this month in Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed Wednesday.
Hassan played 38 ODIs for Afghanistan from 2009-2019, picking up 59 wickets at 22.54 with the best per-inning figures of 5/45 to his name.
He also represented Afghanistan in 25 T20 Internationals (T20Is) during the same period, and in 2010, he led his team to victory in their debut season in First Class Cricket during the Intercontinental Cup.
“Cricket has been my life over the past two-three decades and is in fact something that has been my passion for my whole life. It’s a difficult decision for me to retire from the game I love the most, but I’m doing this for the sake of my country and my team,” Hassan was quoted by the ACB as saying.
“At the same time, I’m honored and pleased to have the opportunity to take the role of the bowling coach of our National Team. I have enjoyed every bit of my playing career with this team, and the opportunity to work with our young bowling group is something I am looking forward to. I’ve been watching our fast bowling group closely and am excited to work with them to make this group as strong as or even stronger than our spinning department,” he added.Afghanistan will face Pakistan in a three-match T20I series from March 25 to 29 in Sharjah -which will be Hassan’s first tournament as the team’s full-time bowling coach.
