Mushtaq, Mahmood set to work with Pakistan in England

Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner and current National Cricket Academy head coach, has been roped in by the PCB as assistant coach, with a focus on bowling, for the four-Test series against England. He will be replaced by former allrounder Azhar Mahmood for the subsequent one-day and T20 series on the tour, while Australian Steve Rixon is likely to play the role of fielding coach, ESPNcricinfo understands. The appointments are yet to be announced formally.

Pakistan visit England for four Tests in July and August this year, followed by five ODIs and a T20.

Mushtaq had been a part of the Pakistan coaching staff and team management in various capacities since 2014. His coaching credentials are heavy on experience in England; he has worked with England as a spin-bowling consultant. He is presently working as head coach at the NCA in Lahore and will be released from those duties for the Test series. Mahmood has a playing contract with English county Surrey that ends in July. It is understood that the split in duties for Pakistan's England tour with Mushtaq was conceived to allow Mahmood to complete his Surrey contract and then join the team; he has been offered a one-year contract with Pakistan following that.

Rixon, a former Australia wicketkeeper, had been part of Pakistan's new head coach Mickey Arthur's coaching staff with Australia between 2011 and January 2014. During his tenure with Australia, he had been employed as fielding coach, spin-bowling coach and assistant coach at various times.

The PCB had already extended the contracts of batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Luden for the England tour, after they had already completed their two-year terms. Luden had been working as trainer-cum-fielding coach, but the PCB decided to hand him the specialist role of fitness trainer and get in Rixon as fielding coach on Arthur's advice.