With the T20 World Cup on the brink of commencement, Pakistan are eying to secure the services of West Indies icon Viv Richards as team mentor for the marquee event. The World Cup is ten days away from beginning in the USA and the West Indies. The event will be historic as 20 teams will participate in the tournament for the first time since its inception. Ahead of the tournament, Pakistan are looking to rope in Richards as the team mentor according to Geo News sources.

According to the sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is holding a conversation with the former West Indies batting maestro.

The former West Indies star boasts vast experience as well as the knowledge of playing the Caribbean.

It is also believed that PCB’s decision to bring in Richards is inspired by the 72-year-old’s impact in the Pakistan Super League. Richards serves as a mentor for the PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators.

However, PCB face a major challenge in bringing in Richards due to his existing media commitments for the event.

Pakistan have completely revamped their white-ball set-up since the departure of former director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez earlier this year.

Last month, former South Africa cricketer Gary Kirsten was announced as the head coach for the limited overs cricket.

It was under his reign, that Pakistan’s arch-rival India lifted the 2011 World Cup trophy on their home soil and ended their 28 years of wait. India also became the number-one team in the ICC Test rankings during his stint.

Kirsten recently arrived in Leeds and linked up with the ‘Men in Green’ ahead of their four-match T20I series against England.

The 56-year-old will look to inspire the Pakistan team to the World Cup glory. Their upcoming four-match series against England will help them prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The T20I series will begin on May 22 in Headingley Carnegie and will conclude on May 30 in London.

Out of 19 teams, Pakistan are the only team that hasn’t announced their 15-player squad.

For the highly anticipated tournament, Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside the USA, India, Canada and Ireland.

The Men in Green will kick off their campaign against the USA on June 6 and will face arch-rival India on June 9 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.

Pakistan squad for the England series: Babar Azam (C), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.

Pakistan Cricket Board is keen to rope in West Indian legend Viv Richards as mentor for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Pakistan Cricket Board is keen on roping in legendary Vivian Richards as a mentor for the national team during the upcoming World T20 Cup scheduled in the Americas.

Richards has worked as a mentor for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League since 2016 and as per PCB sources current chairman Mohsin Naqvi is keen on having a big name associated with the national team. Also with most of the Super Eights games in the Caribbean, Richards’ experience of conditions could come in handy.

“Sir Viv Richards has some prior media commitments for the World Cup but things are being worked out as the Pakistani players have great respect and regard for him,” the source said.

He said if the deal goes through Richards will mentor the team in the World Cup a role fulfilled by former Australian opener, Matthew Hayden in the last two T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 where Pakistan reached the semifinal and final.

A PCB source also informed that PCB Chairman Naqvi had also given orders for the appointment of a foreign chief curator and Australian curator Tony Hemmings is seen as a strong candidate for the position.

Hemmings is presently employed with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where he started in July of last year under a two-year contract.

“He applied for the Chief Curator position with the PCB and is ready to come to Pakistan,” he said.

Tony Hemmings has served as an International Cricket Soil Advisor and Consultant for the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) in Perth and also as the Head Curator at the ICC Cricket Academy and the Dubai International Stadium.

“The PCB Chairman has given priority to improving the behavior of pitches in the country before the start of the next domestic season so Hemmings has been short-listed,” he said.