Weeks after failing to get a recall on Pakistan's tour of England, leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has been chosen as the national cricket team's new assistant coach, officials said Friday.

"Mushtaq has been appointed assistant coach for the ICC (International Cricket Council) Champions Trophy. It's only for one tour," Cricket Board spokesman Abbas Zaidi told AFP.

The 36-year-old Mushtaq has been in top form for Sussex in England, having taken 89 wickets for them in the 2006 season, and was widely tipped for a recall during Pakistan's recently concluded Test series in England.

Mushtaq played the most recent of his 52 Tests in 2003. He has 185 Test and 161 one-day wickets.

His latest appointment was apparently at the request of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer, as they want a former player to be groomed as Woolmer's eventual successor.

Woolmer's tenure is set to end after next year's World Cup in the West Indies.

Mushtaq was recalled to the Pakistan squad for the home series against England last year but did not play in any of the three Tests.

He was instead appointed bowling consultant for the one-day series against England and the subsequent Test series against India.

Pakistan open the eight-team ICC Champions Trophy against a qualifier team at Jaipur in India on October 17. They then take on New Zealand on October 25 and South Africa on October 27, both at Mohali.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)