PCB to hire foreign experts to improve domestic cricket

In its bid to professionals the cricket set up in the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to rope in Australian trainers and other experts.

In its bid to professionals the cricket set up in the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to rope in Australian trainers and other experts.

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The foreigners would help train curators, trainers, physiotherapists and coaches to improve the quality of domestic cricket.

"We are talking to some geologists also so that they come and train our grounds men and curators on how to prepare proper cricket pitches," a senior official of the board said.

"At the moment we don't have professionally trained curators or grounds men or a proper manual for preparing pitches in the board this is one area where we need to make rapid improvement," the official said on the sidelines of the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the national stadium, here.

In the past, Pakistan had hired the services of ICC curator Andy Atkinson to help prepare pitches.

The official said the board is aware of the need to coach trainers, physiotherapists to improve domestic cricket.

"That is why we are also making our national cricket academy more active and arranging tours for the academy teams to give them maximum exposure," he said.

He disclosed that the academy team would tour Australia in June-July followed by a home series against Bangladesh before travelling to South Africa.