Lahore: Former Test cricketer Mohammad Akram has been appointed as Pakistan's bowling coach for a period of one year.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director, Intikhab Alam said at the Gaddafi stadium that the 38-year-old Akram will be supervising a level four coaching course and join the squad in the UAE for the series against Australia.
"The chairman of the PCB has approved his appointment for one year as national bowling coach and he will join the team immediately for the series against Australia in the UAE," said Alam, also the head of the coaching committee.
Pakistan had been without a bowling coach since former fast-bowler Aqib Javed resigned from the post. Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar had last week offered to take on the vacant bowling coach's position with the national team but the PCB rejected his candidature stating that he was not eligible due to lack of qualifications as a 'professional coach'.
The 37-year-old Akram, who played nine Tests and 22 one-day internationals between 1995 and 2001, is now settled in England and had shown a lot of interest in the bowling coach's position.
Akram will join the team in UAE where Pakistan plays three ODIs and an equal number of T20s against Australia from next Tuesday.