Pybus appointed West Indies' director of cricket

Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan and Bangladesh coach, has been appointed West Indies' director of cricket. Pybus will provide cricketing expertise to help develop West Indies' regional and international cricketers, over a three-year period starting November 1.

WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead said Pybus was chosen after reviewing several applicants. "Securing the services of Richard is a major coup for the WICB," Muirhead said. "I look forward to Richard joining us in Antigua and enhancing the work which we are doing, so as to ensure that all the necessary structures are in place to allow West Indian cricketers to develop and flourish. He has extensive knowledge in designing and managing successful cricket development systems both at the grassroots and elite levels, and we look forward to him building on the work we have already done."

Pybus, who was set to fly out to the West Indies on Friday, said he was keyed up for the job. "I am particularly looking forward to working with the West Indies teams, the first-class sides, the High Performance Programme and the educational structures, to ensure a rigorous, competitive system that feeds through elite players to international level."

Apart from two stints with Pakistan, and most recently a very short one with Bangladesh, Pybus has coached extensively in South Africa, at the franchise level. In the West Indies, he will be based at the WICB secretariat in Antigua.