Former Indian first-class cricketer and former fielding coach of the Indian National Cricket Team, R Sridhar, has been appointed as the new assistant coach of the Afghanistan National Cricket Team on an interim basis.

R Sridhar represented the Hyderabad cricket team from 1989/90 to 2000/01, before becoming a cricket coach in 2001. In total, he played 35 first-class matches in which he scored 574 runs and took 91 wickets. He also featured in 15 List A matches in which he scored 69 runs and took 14 wickets.

R Sridhar completed a level three course to earn accreditation as a certified coach in 2007 and took his coaching to new heights. He worked as a coach for Hyderabad’s under-19 and under-16 teams before joining the National Cricket Academy in 2011.

He then served as the fielding coach of the India Under-19 team in 2011 and assistant coach in 2014. R Sridhar also plied his trade in the IPL, having been the fielding coach of Punjab Kings before being appointed as the head coach of Andhra for two years.

R Sridhar got a big break in 2017 when he was appointed as the permanent fielding coach of the Indian National Cricket Team. He even received a contract extension for his good work and was India’s fielding coach in over 300 international matches including two ICC ODIs and two T20 World Cups.

Afghanistan Cricket Board wants R Sridhar to play the role effectively and hopes to have a long-term contract with him – ACB

In an official statement released by the Afghanistan Cricket Board on August 21, it was announced that R Sridhar will join the Afghan team as an assistant coach on an interim basis.

The ACB also mentioned that he will be with the Afghanistan National Cricket Team in the one-off Test match against New Zealand and the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

“It is worth mentioning that the Afghanistan Cricket Board has appointed Sridhar as assistant coach for the Test match against New Zealand and the three-match ODI series against South Africa. The Afghanistan Cricket Board wishes Sridhar to play the role effectively and looks forward to having a long-term contract with him in the future,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board said in an official press release.

“Sridhar is a Level 3 certified coach who has worked for the Indian national under-19 team as an assistant coach and spin bowling coach. From 2008 to 2014, Sridhar worked at the Indian National Cricket Academy as an assistant fielding and spin bowling coach,” the ACB said. “He has been the fielding coach for the Indian national team in over 300 international matches, including two ICC ODIs and two T20I World Cups,” the ACB added.

The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will be played in Greater Noida from September 9. They will then travel to Sharjah to play three ODIs against South Africa on September 18, 20 and 22.