The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has welcomed R Sridhar on board as the assistant coach for the national team's upcoming cricket series against New Zealand and South Africa. Bringing with him a wealth of experience, Sridhar previously held the position of India's fielding coach under the leadership of Ravi Shastri from 2014 to 2021.
Afghanistan, under the guidance of former England cricketer Jonathan Trott, is gearing up for a challenging schedule, starting with a one-off Test match against New Zealand in Noida commencing on September 9. This will be followed by a series of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against South Africa in Sharjah starting from September 18.A seasoned cricketer himself, Sridhar, aged 54, represented Hyderabad as a left-arm spinner during the 1990s in Indian domestic cricket.
Transitioning into coaching in 2001, he honed his skills at the prestigious National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, mentored the India Under-19 team during the 2014 World Cup, and took charge of coaching responsibilities with the IPL team Kings XI Punjab, before his significant tenure with the senior Indian national team.
Sridhar's coaching credentials include a Level-3 certification.In a statement, the ACB expressed optimism about the potential long-term collaboration with Sridhar in shaping Afghanistan's cricketing future, as he joins the team for the upcoming series. This strategic move underscores the commitment of the ACB towards enhancing the team's performance and nurturing talent under expert guidance.