Ireland coach John Bracewell has pulled off a coup by persuading Chaminda Vaas to join his squad as a bowling consultant to help the Boys in Green prepare for the World T20 tournament in India.

The legendary Sri Lankan boasts the best one-day international bowling figures of all time - his 8-19 against Zimbabwe in 2001 - and Bracewell is hoping his vast experience and knowledge of sub-continental conditions will help Ireland get through a tough opening group.

“It’s great to have Chaminda on board,” Bracewell said. “I have long been an admirer of his skills and like all the Sri Lankan cricketers of his era he was a great problem-solver. His ability to get wickets in all forms of the game - especially on the sub-continent - was extraordinary.

“He will be joining the squad for the two T20 internationals against the UAE in Abu Dhabi next month and staying with us through the build up to the T20 World Cup and during the tournament itself. I’m sure his experience will be invaluable to our bowling group.”

A canny left-arm seamer, Vaas took 755 wickets in his 111 Tests and 322 ODIs, including a hat-trick with the first three balls of the game against Canada at the 2003 World Cup, and has worked as a bowling coach with New Zealand and Sri Lanka, as well as in the IPL, since hanging up his boots.

Ireland face Bangladesh, Oman and The Netherlands in the first round of the World T20. The winners of the group will qualify for the Super 10 phase where they will play India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

Indo Sport