Dhaka, March 8, Former Afghanistan fast-bowler Hamid Hassan has been named as the new bowling coach of the men's team, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hassan will retire from the game as a player to step into the bowling coach role from Afghanistan's upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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," said Hassan in a statement by the ACB.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In a career where he had to face a lot of injuries, Hassan played 38 ODIs for Afghanistan from 2009-2019, picking up 59 wickets at an average of 22.54 with his best figures being 5\/45. He also played 25 T20Is for Afghanistan, picking 35 wickets while averaging 16.57 and best figures of 4\/22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hassan was Afghanistan's fast-bowling spearhead in first class cricket during the Intercontinental Cup 2010, picking up 45 wickets in just 6 matches in his side's title win. Overall, he had 69 scalps in 28 first-class innings at an average of 22.88 with six fifers and three ten-fers in the format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan is all set to host Pakistan for a series of three T20I matches from March 25-29 in Sharjah, UAE. It will be the first time these two teams will play against each other in a bilateral series of multiple matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hassan was Afghanistan's fast-bowling spearhead in first class cricket during the Intercontinental Cup 2010, picking up 45 wickets in just 6 matches in his side's title win. Overall, he had 69 scalps in 28 first-class innings at an average of 22.88 with six fifers and three ten-fers in the format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n