Shane Watson has been backed to bring back the "glory days" of Quetta Gladiators after being appointed coach of the major Pakistan Super League franchise that he once graced as a player.
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The former Australian international will guide the Gladiators in the 2024 season five years since he led them to victory as an overseas allrounder in the country's premier white-ball competition.
Watson, who's also been assistant to Ricky Ponting at IPL team Delhi Capitals in 2022, cut his teeth this year as a head coach with Major League Cricket franchise San Francisco Unicorns in the US.
The 42-year-old is only the second coach ever to be appointed by Quetta since the tournament started, with former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan, who's been at the helm throughout for eight years, now to become the team director.
Watson, who spent three years there as a player, will take over at a franchise that's been struggling in recent years after they reached the final three times and won the crown in 2019.
In that year, Watson smashed 430 runs at a strike rate of 143.81 and was voted the player of the tournament.
Owner Nadeem Omar said: "Shane has been an integral part of the Quetta Gladiators' success in the initial seasons of the country's premier league before he took retirement and there has been no better choice than him to coach the side and bring back the glory days which we have been renowned for.
"I wish him all the best for his new role and believe in his capabilities to take Quetta Gladiators to new heights."
It will be a hard act, though, for Watson to follow his exploits as a player in the one-day game.
For although he played 59 Tests for Australia, his feats in that arena were overshadowed by his efforts in limited-overs competition, where he scored 5757 ODI runs and took 168 wickets.
Watson played for two World Cup-winning Australia sides in 2007 and 2015, was player of the final in two editions of the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009, and was also player of the tournament at the 2012 T20 World Cup.
A record-breaking 254 overseas players are reported to have registered in a bid to pay in the ninth edition of the PSL, which is scheduled for 8 February to 24 March.
Australian Associated Press
