COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have hired former South Africa paceman Allan Donald as a bowling consultant to help with their preparations for June’s Champions Trophy, the cricket board announced on Sunday.

Donald was expected to take charge as the assistant coach at English county side Kent who have agreed to release him for a two-month stint with SLC’s pace coaching unit, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

The 50-year-old Bloemfontein-born Donald picked up 272 One-day international wickets during his 12-year career with the ODI side.

His previous coaching assignments include a consultant role with England in 2007 before assisting Gary Kirsten as a bowling coach of the Proteas. In 2008, Donald with former England spinner Ashley Giles led Warwickshire to second division County Championship title.

Donald will join Sri Lanka’s residential camp at the Pallekele International Stadium from May 9 to 16.

“Donald will join the team in their residential training in Pallekele where they will be undergoing a high-intensity training and conditioning programme,” a Sri Lanka Cricket media release said.

The team will face Scotland in two ODIs before playing further practice matches against Australia and New Zealand.

They are placed in Group B and will play South Africa in their opening game at the Oval on June 3.

The South African, who is due to take up a coaching assignment with English county Kent next year, is due in Colombo on Monday.

Kent said Donald would join them in 2018 because of delays in obtaining a work permit.

Last week Sri Lanka named a 15-member squad led by Angelo Mathews for the Champions Trophy.

Sri Lanka Cricket said it hoped Donald would also train Sri Lankan pace bowling coaches Chaminda Vaas, Champaka Ramanayake, Ravindra Pushpakumara and Nuwan Zoysa.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017