Former England head coach and Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has been named assistant coach of the Kings XI Punjab for the 2020 Indian Premier League.
Flower has succeeded former assistant coach Sunil Joshi, who recently became chairman of India's selection committee. The Kings XI Punjab have never won the IPL – and are priced at 10.00 by bet365 for a maiden title this year.
“I am truly excited to come on board as the assistant coach for Kings XI Punjab and look forward to working with head coach Anil Kumble this edition of the IPL,” Flower told the Kings XI website.
“The team looks great and we have a fantastic line up and top-notch support staff and we can't wait to show the world what we are capable of.”
South Africans Charl Langeveldt and Jonty Rhodes have been hired as bowling and fielding coach, respectively.
KXIP will have several overseas stars for the 2020 IPL, including West Indian Chris Gayle, Australian Glenn Maxwell and others. Their opening fixture of this year's IPL will be against the Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla on 30 March.
Elsewhere in the IPL
The Capitals will likely be without South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. He was the franchise's leading-wicket taker in the 2019 IPL, but is currently sidelined by a groin injury.
“Kagiso sustained a groin muscle strain in the T20 series against Australia,” said Cricket South Africa chief medical officer and doctor Shuaib Manjra late last month.
“He was assessed by the medical staff, assisted by an MRI scan. The significant injury means that he will take approximately four weeks to heal, which effectively rules him out of both the Australia and India ODI series. The CSA medical staff will ensure his effective and expeditious recovery.”
The Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, are waiting on the fitness of England fast bowler Jofra Archer. He is nursing an elbow injury.
The Mumbai Indians are the reigning IPL champions. They have won the tournament four times. They are captained by batsman Rohit Sharma, who won't play in this month's ODI series against South Africa due to a calf injury. The squad, though, features the returns of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and batsman Shikhar Dhawan.
