Pakistan name Waqar Younis bowling, fielding coach

Karachi:

Pakistan have appointed former captain and renowned paceman Waqar Younis as a bowling and fielding coach for their tour of Australia starting later this month, an official said on Wednesday.

"Waqar has agreed to serve as fielding and bowling coach for the tour of Australia after we requested his services for the job," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told AFP.

Pakistan dropped about half a dozen catches in their first Test defeat against New Zealand at Dunedin last month. They also grassed three crucial catches in their series-levelling win at Wellington last week.

Pakistan play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international on the tour of Australia, starting December 26 in Melbourne.

Waqar, who has settled in Australia and works as a television commentator, left the bowling coach job in 2007 after a dispute with the former PCB leadership. He also blamed then-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for his ouster.

During an illustrious career, Waqar took 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 in 262 one-day internationals. He also led Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup before retiring the next year.