KARACHI: While Mickey Arthur’s appointment as the Pakistan head coach remains “work in progress”, the country’s cricket board has entrusted the responsibility to a local success story in Abdul Rehman.

Arthur is all but certain to take up the role eventually as Dawn understands, but not before Pakistan’s three-match Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan two weeks later, with the Pakistan Cricket Board announcing Rehman’s appointment as the team’s head coach for the assignment on Tuesday.

According to sources, Arthur’s availability — physical or remote — and that of what will be his handpicked support staff, are factors still under “direct” discussion between the South African himself and the PCB’s interim Management Committee chairman Najam Sethi.

In any case. Rehman is deserving of the job given his stellar record in the domestic circuit. It was under him as head coach that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa trumped the conventional power centres of cricket in Karachi and Punjab to emerge as force to reckon with in the last five to six years.

After winning consecutive National T20 Cup titles with Peshawar Panthers in 2015 and 2016, Rehman led Peshawar Zalmi to their maiden HBL Pakistan Super League title in 2017 as their assistant coach.

As head coach, Rehman led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to two National T20 Cup titles and a Pakistan Cup trophy while also helping his side share the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy with Central Punjab.

Rehman is currently associated with PSL side Multan Sultans as assistant coach, having won a title with them in 2021.

“Can’t express in words what a great honour this is for me, want to thank the PCB management and the chairman for their trust in me and giving me this opportunity to serve Pakistan,” Rehman wrote on Twitter. “It is now time to make the most of my experience and do justice with this responsibility.”

Rehman’s support staff will include former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul as the bowling coach. Gul is currently involved in the same role with PSL outfit Quetta Gladiators and has also served as Afghanistan’s bowling coach in the recent past.

Former captain Mohammad Yousuf — who was a part of ex Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq’s staff — will continue his role as the national side’s batting coach.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2023