Dubai: Mudassar Nazar, the Head of Cricket Development of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy at the Dubai Sports City, will leave after his eight-year stint to take charge as Director of Academies of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Nazar, along with Rodney Marsh as Head Coach and Dayle Hadlee, shaped ICC Academy into one of the most reputed coaching centres in world cricket.
Speaking about his experience with the ICC Academy and his new role with the PCB, Mudassar said: “The opportunities I have had through being the ICC Academy’s Head of Cricket Development and utilising its world-class facilities to be able to coach and educate some of cricket’s best junior and senior athletes has ultimately brought me to this new role as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director of Academies.”
Mudassar, who had also played the role of batting coach of the UAE national team and was available for any guidance to the players at the ICC Academy, will be missed by the team.
The PCB had requested Dubai Sports City to immediately release Mudassar for the new role. Khalid Al Zarouni, President of Dubai Sports City, said: “We are extremely proud that Mudassar has been appointed to join the Pakistan Cricket Board as their Director of Academies. He will now have the opportunity to make an even greater impact on the development of the sport. We look forward to building on the strong base he has put in place.”
Mudassar also expressed the hope that the good work he had done in Dubai would continue. “I have no doubt the academy, its coaches and staff will continue the sterling work we have already managed to achieve. I now look forward to contributing to and giving back to Pakistan cricket, which has given me so much,” he said.
Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the PCB, said in a statement: “I am pleased to have Mudassar on board to work with us as Director of Academies. Mudassar brings a wealth of experience in this role. I am particularly thankful to the ICC Academy and Dubai Sports City (DSC) for allowing Mudassar to work with us. Our association with DSC is time tested and Mudassar’s immediate release by DSC on our request is a demonstration of our cooperation.”
