Grant Bradburn has been appointed Pakistan head coach for the next two years after serving on an interim basis.

The 56-year-old, who played seven Tests and 11 ODIs for New Zealand, will be working under Mickey Arthur, who was appointed team director in March.

Bradburn replaces former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, whose contract expired in February.

Pakistan had Abdur Rehman as interim coach for a T20I series in Sharjah in March, while Bradburn oversaw the coaching during 10 limited-over matches against New Zealand in April and May.

“It is a great honour for me to work with a highly talented and skilful side like Pakistan as a head coach,” said Bradburn, who also served as Pakistan’s fielding coach from 2018 to 2020.

“The New Zealand series has been valuable to get game time and create clarity of roles, culture and brand to win.”

Bradburn’s first assignment is a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in July followed by the Asia Cup in September and World Cup a month later.

He said the expectations on the team are high.

“We have raised the bar of expectation and we will keep challenging our players. The process has started and our players are agreeing to take these challenges head-on.”

Former South African batsman Andrew Puttick has been appointed as batting coach for two years.

The PCB said the team’s management had unveiled a playing style with which they will approach the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

The style, branded “The Pakistan Way”, aims to see the team employ bold tactics and attacking strategies.