PSL: Catherine Dalton named Multan Sultans fast-bowling coach in historic move

In a historic move on Tuesday, former Ireland pacer Catherine Dalton was named Multan Sultans fast-bowling coach in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Dalton thus became the first female coach in PSL history as well as the first-ever female fast-bowling coach of a senior men’s team. The appointment was confirmed by the 2021 PSL champions on Tuesday evening.

Multan have also appointed former England left-arm spinner Alexandra Hartley as their spin-bowling coach, according to a report on The Telegraph. Hartley, who represented England in 28 ODIs and four T20Is between 2016 and 2019, has taken up a career in commentary since the end of her playing days. “Having worked in Pakistan with some of the Multan Sultan players on two previous visits, I am really thrilled to be officially joining up with the franchise at the PSL,” Dalton was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. “It’s not lost on me the ground-breaking moment for a female fast-bowling coach to be working in a major men’s T20 franchise,” added the English-born former Irish cricketer. The 30-year-old was born in Essex in England but would go on to represent Ireland in four ODIs and as many T20Is, the most recent of which was against South Africa in 2016. After her playing days, Dalton would become an ECB-certified Level 3 advanced coach and would have coaching stints with the national fast-bowling academy in the UK as well as in India’s Ultimate Pace Foundation. She has also visited Pakistan on a couple of occasions earlier. “Catherine has been part of our player-development programme for almost five years now. I have seen how she has improved players first hand. I always knew she would become a fast-bowling coach at a high level,” Ali Tareen, Multan Sultans owner, said.