KARACHI: Former Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Kabir Khan has been appointed Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) coach for the new domestic season, HBL cricket consultant Abdul Raqeeb announced on Monday.

Kabir, who played for the bank for nearly a decade, recently resigned as Afghanistan coach due to family reasons. “Kabir is a very qualified coach with big international experience behind him,” Raqeeb, himself a former left arm spinner who toured India Pakistan cricket under Asif Iqbal in 1979-80, said. He informed that Kabir’s services has been initially hired for one-year which is extendable.

He expressed hope that under Kabir, the HBL team will improve their position in President’s Trophy and other domestic cricket events. “Kabir expressed his keenness to coach his former bank to take them to new heights,” Raqeeb, who was manager of Pakistan team during tour to Australia in 2011, commented.

In the meantime HBL have also hired the services of opener Fakhar Zaman and teenage Pakistan Under-19 off-spinner Ashiq Ali tobolster their team.

Published in Dawn, September 10th , 2014