Colombo - New Zealand have brought in former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to help plot Sri Lanka's downfall in the two-Test series starting later this month.
Saqlain will work with the Black Caps spinners and advise the batsmen on how to play the turning ball on dry wickets in the subcontinent.
"New Zealand Cricket has an agreement with Saqlain Mushtaq who will work with the Black Caps over the next 12 months," NZC spokesperson Stephen Hill told reporters.
"He will be working with both our bowlers and batsmen, usually for a few days at a time during the team's international series over that period."
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'He will be working with both our bowlers and batsmen' Saqlain, 32, widely regarded as the inventor of the "doosra" - the off-spinner's googly that turns left after pitching - last played for Pakistan in 2004.
He claimed 208 wickets in 49 Tests at an average of 29,83 and 288 wickets in 169 one-day internationals.
Saqlain played English county cricket for 11 years for Surrey and Sussex before being forced to quit after signing up with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.
"Spinners would play a prominent role in Sri Lanka, they would have a say in nearly 80 percent of the game," Saqlain told the Cricinfo website.
"My role would also be to speak about how to attack the batsmen in different situations. We have to be careful as to what needs to be learned and taught," he added.
Saqlain will work with skipper Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel, the two spinners in the Kiwi squad.
His former Pakistan team-mate, Mushtaq Ahmed, has worked with the England Test squad.
The first Sri Lanka-New Zealand Test starts in Galle on August 18, followed by the second at the Sinhalese sports club in Colombo from August 26.
The Black Caps will also play two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka before being joined by India for a limited-overs tri-series from September 8. - AFP
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