Shah will be UAE’s head coach until January 31, 2017

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former England batsman Owais Shah has been appointed as the United Arab Emirates’ head coach on an interim basis.

Shah, who has represented England in six Tests, 71 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 Internationals, worked with the UAE in the lead-up to their matches against Scotland in the summer before agreeing to become a coaching consultant.

In April, former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed resigned as the UAE’s head coach and they have been looking for a successor ever since.

Shah, though, will only hold the position for a few months as his tenure started on Sunday and will conclude on January 31st, 2017.

“Emirates Cricket Board today confirm that Owais Shah will join Emirates Cricket as Interim Head Coach,” a statement on the Emirates Cricket Board’s Facebook page said. “Shah’s appointment will commence from today, Sunday November 6th, and continue through to January 31st 2017.”

Emirates Cricket Board CEO David East added: “We are very pleased to confirm that Owais will continue working with Emirates Cricket as interim head coach for a three-month period. In a short time Owais has developed a strong rapport with the players and Emirates Cricket support staff and we expect to see gains, both in development and on the scoreboard, from his involvement as we enter a very busy playing schedule.”