Dean Jones appointed interim Afghanistan coach

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have appointed former Australia batsman Dean Jones as interim head coach for Afghanistan's Intercontinental Cup fixture in Hong Kong. Afghanistan have been without a coach since August after the board chose not to renew Lalchand Rajput's contract following a year-long stint with the side. Jones, 56, recently covered the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan's premier T20 competition, in Kabul as a commentator, his style of commentary making him popular with the Afghanistan fans.

"Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has appointed as interim head coach of the Afghanistan National Cricket Team for the upcoming tour of Hong Kong for the Intercontinental Cup fixture," the ACB announced in a statement. "Both sides will consider a long-term coaching agreement after the tour of Hong Kong."

Afghanistan have struggled for consistency in the coaching department, having changed five coaches over the past five years. Before Rajput, former Pakistan internationals Inzamam-ul Haq, Rashid Latif and Kabir Khan all had spells as Afghanistan head coach.

Afghanistan are set to play a first-class game in the ICC Intercontinental Cup on October 20 at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong. Afghanistan are presently unbeaten, in second place with 81 points behind Ireland, who lead the table with 89 points from six games. They won the Intercontinental Cup in 2010, beating Scotland in the final, after bursting onto international cricket's collective consciousness in 2009 when they gained ODI status with a sixth-place finish at that year's World Cup Qualifier in South Africa.