Afghanistan's coaching staff, helmed by Lance Klusener, has been bolstered by the appointment of HD Ackerman, the former South Africa Test batsman, cricket commentator and columnist.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Ackerman, 46, would start work with the team on March 1, ahead of the national team's three-T20I series in India against Ireland, which will be followed by a one-off Test. His contract will run till the end of 2020.
Former South African cricketer and commentator, Hylton Deon Ackerman has been appointed as the new batting coach of Afghanistan National team. Ackerman will commence his duty in March for Afghanistan's T20I series against @Irelandcricket . pic.twitter.com/enTBSAGxtq
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 28, 2020
Ackerman played four Test matches for South Africa, two against Pakistan and two against Sri Lanka, all at home in 1998, scoring one half-century in aggregating 161 runs at an average of 20.12. He had a much more fruitful time in first-class cricket, though, playing the 1993-94 season all the way to mid-2009, in which he scored 14,625 runs, including a triple-century, at an average of 43.65 in 220 outings. He also played 230 List A matches and 55 T20s.
The T20I series against Ireland will be played in Greater Noida, near the Indian capital of New Delhi, on March 6, 8 and 10.