Darren Gough Frontrunner for Lahore Qalandars Head Coach Role

Darren Gough, the former England fast bowler, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the head coach of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Gough's appointment as head coach of Qalandars in the Global Super League (GSL), which begins in Guyana on November 26, is seen as a stepping stone towards a permanent role in the PSL.

Aaqib Javed, who served as head coach and director of cricket operations for Qalandars for eight years, resigned last month to join the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a member of the selection committee for the Pakistan men's national team. Qalandars won back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023 but finished bottom of the table this year.

Gough, who retired in 2006 as England's leading ODI wicket-taker, is eager to take on the role. The GSL is seen as an opportunity for him to gain experience before a permanent decision is made.

Gough previously served as managing director at his former club, Yorkshire, after being appointed in December 2021 following the racism allegations that rocked the club. He parted ways with Yorkshire in March this year. Before that, he had a stint as England's bowling consultant in 2020.

In 2021, Yorkshire launched a partnership with Qalandars aimed at "nurturing talent [by] reducing barriers to entry" following the racism crisis.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity because I've been fortunate to work with the Qalandars in Lahore on several occasions, assisting with their PDP [player development programme]," Gough said in a statement. "We know that Lahore Qalandars are all about giving young players opportunities they've never had before -developing their skills and shaping them into players who can go on to represent the Qalandars, and hopefully make Pakistan cricket proud."

Sameen Rana, co-owner of Qalandars, said Gough's vision aligned "seamlessly with our commitment to player development", referring to the appointment as an embarkation on "a new journey".

The GSL will feature five teams: Qalandars, Hampshire Hawks from the T20 Blast, Rangpur Riders from the BPL, Victoria from Australia, and the hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The final will take place on December 7.

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