Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat joins Proteas coaching staff as bowling consultant
By
SABC Sport
11th February 2025
Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat has been appointed as South Africa's bowling consultant for the rest of the tri-nation ODI series with Pakistan and New Zealand.
Arafat, who represented Pakistan in three Tests, 11 ODIs, and 13 T20Is, recently arrived in Lahore from London and has since joined South Africa's training camp ahead of their opening match against New Zealand on February 10.
At 42 years old, Arafat makes history as the first Pakistani Test cricketer to successfully complete the ECB Level 4 coaching course at Loughborough University. He has also gained considerable experience coaching bowling for county teams like Sussex and Surrey, as well as working with the Perth Scorchers in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL).
Moreover, Arafat has previously served as Pakistan's High-Performance Coach and also worked as the bowling coach for the Hong Kong national team.
Commenting on his new position, Arafat shared that it will be a valuable opportunity, noting that his appointment was influenced by his knowledge of local conditions.
"It is a good opportunity for me to work with the South Africa team. I've been given the role because of my familiarity with the conditions here," Arafat remarked.
While acknowledging that the absence of senior players due to T20 leagues and injuries poses a challenge, Arafat expressed optimism about the potential of South Africa's young players.
"Unavailability of experienced players makes a difference, but youngsters are also talented," he said.
The tri-nation ODI series, running from February 8 to 14, serves as an important build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which kicks off in Karachi on February 19.
Pakistan's first match will be against New Zealand, while South Africa will face off in their opening game on February 10. The series' final will be contested on February 14 between the top two teams.
