Lahore, Nov 2: Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood was on Wednesday (November 2) appointed the national cricket team's bowling coach for two years.

Mahmood, whose assignment will start with the tour to New Zealand from November 4, had worked with the Pakistan side on two previous occasions.

The 41-year-old had first been brought on as a temporary replacement for Mushtaq Ahmed for the Asia Cup in February 2016, and subsequently continued to work alongside Mushtaq during the International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20, according to a espncricinfo report.

He was again with the team during the limited-overs series against England in August. These stints were of short term because Mahmood was contracted as a player with English county club Surrey until July 2016.

Despite his limited experience as a coach, Pakistan can benefit a lot from the veteran pace bowling all-rounder's experience of playing in England, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand and the West Indies as a T20 specialist after his international retirement in 2007.

Pakistan will play two Tests against the Kiwis in Christchurch and Hamilton.

IANS