Afghan Cricket Board hires qualified Pakistani head trainer

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): A Pakistani strength and conditioning trainer has joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA) of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Khwaja Ruhail is certified by National Academy of Sports Medicine in the USA as sports performance enhancement specialist and level-II by Strength and Conditioning and Association Australia.

Appointed as head trainer by ACB, he affirmed his determination to draw on his skills in helping the Afghan cricketers stay fit. “I will prepare them well for big matches against big opponents.”

In an interview with The Nation, Ruhail hoped the Afghans would see a visible improvement in their game and perform better at the international. “I will design the best plan for the Afghanistan players, which will certainly help in improving their performance...”

During the World Twenty20, Ruhail acknowledged, Afghanistan played exceptionally well and proved hard nuts to crack. But there was always room for improvement, he hastened to add.

NCA Director Aizad Hussain Syed and coach Kabir Khan encouragedRuhail to train the Afghans. “Due to my mentors’ all-out support, I managed to get this spot. I will try my best to help Afghanistan scale new heights...”

PAN Monitor/mud