Pakistan cancel training camp, say they are in in talks with ECB about bringing forward departure for England ahead of proposed three Tests and three T20Is later this summer
Sunday 14 June 2020 11:42, UK
Pakistan's proposed tour of England has grown even more likely after the side appointed Younis Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed as members of their coaching staff for the trip.
England are hoping to welcome Pakistan for three Tests and as many T20Is later this summer after the completion of the three-Test series against West Indies, which begins on July 8.
Pakistan announced on Tuesday they had decided not to hold the scheduled training camp in Lahore before they leave for England due to a rise of coronavirus cases in the country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board says it is in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about bringing forward the players' early-July departure date so they can benefit from additional practice time.
Should the tour go ahead, Younis - Pakistan's leading run-scorer in Test cricket after hitting 10,099 runs, including 34 hundreds, between his debut in 2000 and when he retired in 2017 - will work with the team's batsmen.
Mushtaq Ahmed will serve as Pakistan's spin-bowling coach for the tour - the 49-year-old claimed 185 Test wickets with his leg-spin and has since worked with England's spinners in a coaching capacity.
Younis - who scored 218 against England at The Oval in 2016 - and Mushtaq will work with head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis.
For me, there has never been a bigger honour and a better feeling than to represent my country and I feel privileged to have been again offered the opportunity to serve it for a challenging but exciting tour of England.
PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said: "I am delighted that someone of the stature and incredible batting record of Younis Khan has agreed to join the Pakistan cricket set-up as batting coach.
"When I spoke with him, his commitment and enthusiasm to take up this assignment and serve his country was never in doubt and he jumped at the opportunity.
"Younis' work ethics, commitment to match preparation, game awareness and tactics in the English conditions will be invaluable.
"Mushtaq knows the English conditions as well as anyone, having spent a lot of time playing county cricket and working with the England cricket team.
"Apart from guiding the spinners and playing a mentor's role, Mushtaq can be helpful to Misbah in match planning and preparations."
