The ICC Global Cricket Academy (GCA), based at Dubai Sports City , has announced the appointment of two world-class coaches – former Test cricketers Dayl
e Hadlee and Mudassar Nazar.Both coaches will relocate to Dubai to take up their positions in early 2009.
Hadlee arrives from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) where he has been working as head bowling coach, and previously head coach of the NZC academy, while Mudassar will come into the job from his current position as director of game development for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The pair will work alongside the GCA’s director of coaching Rodney Marsh to help train and develop the best talent in world cricket. They will also work with international teams and local players to improve the standard of the sport across the United Arab Emirates .
The three coaches will design and implement specific elite programmes, provide coaching education courses and support grassroots development to make the GCA a centre of excellence, innovation and education for world cricket.
“Dayle and Mudassar are two of the best academy coaches in the world,” said Marsh.
“I can’t wait to start working with them in order to develop programmes that will help to improve cricket globally. We will have a great balance of coaching skills to offer every cricketer who comes to Dubai Sports City ,” he said.
Hadlee played 26 Test matches and 11 One-Day Internationals for New Zealand . He then moved into coaching and became one of the most respected academy and fast-bowling coaches in the game.
“I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life and I hope my contribution will have a lasting impact on cricket around the world,” said Hadlee.
“The ICC Global Cricket Academy will be a spectacular facility that will provide the best environment to develop talent and participation in the sport,” he added.
Mudassar scored more than 4,000 runs and took 66 wickets during his Test match career for Pakistan that included a stint as vice-captain. More recently he has been working at the PCB’s National Cricket Academy .
“This is a really exciting opportunity to work at the highest level of cricket coaching and development,” said Mudassar. “I am looking forward to working with elite level players, but also improving the talent within the UAE.”
The GCA will be an important focal point for international cricketing excellence and education. Situated in Dubai Sports City , the academy will provide a unique environment for coaching, game education and training in outstanding facilities with some of the games best coaches.
The GCA will also afford the opportunity to players, coaches, umpires, curators and administrators from across the ICC’s 104 Members to benefit from programmes and courses, creating a vibrant and integrated cricket community.
About ICC Global Cricket Academy
Based at Dubai Sports City , the ICC Global Cricket Academy (GCA) will be the focal point of world cricket development, offering players, coaches, umpires and trainers at all levels the opportunity to develop their education and skills.
The GCA will provide state-of-the-art facilities with indoor and outdoor pitches, complemented by the latest technology to allow coaches to assess all areas of a player’s game.
The facility will be home to some of the best cricket coaches in the world, who will work with visiting international teams as well as local players to improve the standard of cricket across the UAE.
As part of the plan to create the best training facility in the world, the GCA is reproducing a variety of pitch types, which will replicate the playing surface conditions of the UK , Asian sub-continent and Australia . The work involves importing specific types of clay, soil and turf using varying preparation and agronomic practices to replicate the characteristics of each surface.
About Dayle Hadlee
Dayle Robert Hadlee was born in Christchurch , New Zealand on 6 January 1948 and is the middle brother of Barry and Richard Hadlee. His father, Walter, played 11 Test matches for New Zealand .
Dayle Hadlee started out as a fast-medium bowler but due to repeated back problems he became a swing bowler later in his career. He played 26 Tests and 11 ODIs for New Zealand as well as representing Canterbury throughout his career.
After retiring from playing the game, Hadlee joined New Zealand Cricket working his way up through the ranks to become manager of the high-performance centre. He later took a role as head coach of the New Zealand academy.
More recently he has been working with the New Zealand senior squad as a fast bowling coach.
About Mudassar Nazar
Mudassar Nazar was born on 6 April 1956 in Lahore , Pakistan . His father, Nazar Mohammad, played 11 Test matches for Pakistan and Mudassar followed in his father’s footsteps, representing his country in 76 Tests and 122 ODIs. The all-rounder scored 4,114 runs in Tests and took 66 wickets.
After retiring, Mudassar went on to become a highly-successful coach, mainly with the Pakistan Cricket Board academy, but also as coach of the Pakistan senior team and as the national coach of Kenya , bringing the side to the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2005.
ICC MEDIA RELEASE