KARACHI — Pakistan Tuesday finalized its coaching team for its England tour, appointing Australian Steve Rixon to lift its dwindling fielding standards.
Rixon was appointed on the recommendation of head coach Mickey Arthur, who was brought in last month after Pakistan's disastrous World Twenty20 in India where it failed to reach the semifinals.
Arthur replaces Waqar Younis, who resigned in April.
Pakistan in April appointed former captain Inzamamul Haq as chief selector as it looks to improve its rankings in one-day and Twenty20 internationals.
A Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said: "We have appointed Rixon as fielding coach, Mushtaq Ahmed as bowling coach for Tests, Azhar Mahmood (bowling coach) for the limited over series," said the spokesman.
Rixon, 62, is regarded as a hard taskmaster and Arthur said last week the team's fielding was "in need of a huge lift".
Pakistan leaves for England on June 18 and will train in Hampshire before opening the tour with a three-day side game against Somerset from July 3.
It plays Sussex from July 8 to 10 in another side game before taking on England in the first of four Tests at Lord's from July 14.
The Tests will be followed by five ODIs and a Twenty20.
Cook says England ready for Pakistan
England Test skipper Alastair Cook believes his batsmen are well-prepared to deal with Pakistan's fiery attack next month after getting plenty of practice in the middle against a weakened Sri Lanka side.
England crushed Sri Lanka 2-0 in the three-Test home series that concluded on Monday, facing little resistance from a team shorn of frontline pacemen Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad through injury at different stages during the tour.
However, Cook's side can expect a far bigger challenge from a formidable Pakistani pace attack spearheaded by left-armers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, supplemented by tricky leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
"They've got a very good pace attack, backed up with spinners," Cook said after the rain-hit final Test against Sri Lanka ended in a tame draw at Lord's.
"But we're ready for them. We scored a lot of runs against Australia's attack here last year. I think it's going to be a brilliant series."
