Andy Flower appointed head coach of Lucknow IPL franchise

The former Zimbabwe international previously served as the assistant coach of Punjab Kings and led Multan Sultans to Pakistan Super League glory in 2021

Andy Flower has been appointed head coach of the new Lucknow-based franchise for the 2022 Indian Premier League.

The Lucknow team is one of two new franchises introduced for the 15th edition of the tournament and was purchased by Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) in the bidding process in October. The second new side will be based in Ahmedabad.

Flower is no stranger to the IPL having previously served as the assistant coach of Punjab Kings for the past two seasons.

He is also the head coach of Multan Sultans, leading them to their maiden Pakistan Super League title in 2021, and has steered St Lucia Kings to back-to-back Caribbean Premier League finals over the past two seasons.

^{Paul Collingwood and Andy Flower with the T20 World Cup trophy in 2010 [Julian Finney/Getty Images]}

Prior to that, Flower enjoyed a lengthy involvement with the England set-up, first serving as assistant coach before taking over the reins between 2009 and 2014. Under his guidance, England reached the top of the Test rankings and lifted the 2010 T20 World Cup.

More recently, the 53-year-old was a consultant for Afghanistan at the T20 World Cup and coached Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

He will be assisted at Lucknow by two-time IPL winner Gautam Gambhir, who has been named as a mentor for the side.