England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will help coach the United Arab Emirates cricket team during his rehabilitation from knee surgery, the star's agent revealed on Friday. Flintoff retired from Test cricket after England's Ashes victory over Australia last month and then had surgery on a knee problem before last week moving to Dubai, where he hopes to open a cricket academy.
The 31-year-old will base his recovery programme at the Dubai Sports City complex and will use his time away from the treatment room to help with the development of the country's leading cricketers. Although Flintoff last week snubbed an incremental contract offer from the England and Wales Cricket Board, the UAE deal will see him assist the team only on a casual basis and does not represent a formal arrangement.
"A partnership has been agreed with Dubai Sports City to use their gym and facilities as a base for his rehabilitation," Flintoff's agent Andrew Chandler told The National newspaper. "I believe he will be one of the first people to use them. In return he will be carrying out some coaching for the UAE national team over the next six months.
"There has been good growth in UAE cricket in the last few years and Andrew felt that he wanted to give something back. "He has turned down an England contract but this won't make much difference as he has said he will make himself available for one-day games.