KARACHI, Aug 18: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday that it had recruited a former Australian rugby trainer to the support staff of the national team. David Dwyer would join fellow Australian Geoff Lawson, who is due to arrive in Pakistan on Monday as coach, in time for next month's Twenty20 World Cup, it said.

“We advertised the post for the trainer of the national cricket team and have finalised David Dwyer who is an accomplished name in fitness training in Australia,” the PCB Director of Operations, Zakir Khan, said.

Lawson replaced Englishman Bob Woolmer who died during Pakistan's flopped campaign in the 50-over World Cup held in the Caribbean in March.

Zakir said Dwyer's experience will help boost fitness levels – an area the Pakistani cricketers find a particular challenge.

“Dwyer is an experienced professional and was selected after thorough research and we have taken feedback from Lawson as well,” said Zakir of Dwyer, who will fly out to Lahore alongside Lawson to join the team next week.

Dwyer will arrive on a two-year contract and will replace South African Murray Stephenson whose contract was not renewed after Pakistan's first-round exit from the World Cup.

Pakistan will begin a short training camp next week before leaving for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship starting in South Africa from Sept 11.

On their way they will also feature in a four-nation Twenty20 tune-up event in Kenya where the hosts, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates are the other competing teams.—AFP