Dutch club Sparta 1888, who won promotion to the Hoofdklasse last season, have recruited former Pakistani international batsman Mohammed Wasim as their coach for the coming season. The agreement is still subject to the completion of visa formalities.

The 30-year-old Wasim, who plays for Rawalpindi in Pakistani domestic cricket, appeared in the first of his 18 Tests at the age of 19 in 1996-97, and became the fourth Pakistani batsman to make a century on debut by following up a first-innings duck against New Zealand at Lahore with an undefeated 109 in the second.

He has, however, not been included in the national side since the tour of the West Indies in 2000. In all he made 783 runs at an average of 30.11, with a highest score of 192 against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1997-98.

He also played in 25 ODIs in the same period, though with rather less success.

In all first-class cricket he has made more than 8000 runs, including 19 centuries. Between 2002 and 2005 he had three seasons with Otago in New Zealand.

Wasim has also taken 11 first-class wickets with his occasional leg spin.

Although he is likely to have a less spectacular impact on the Hoofdklasse than would have been the case had New Zealander Luke Vivian returned to Capelle aan der IJssel – Vivian made an extraordinary 1143 runs in the Eerste Klasse last season, most of them extremely rapid, but is understood to have a contract in England for 2008 – Wasim is clearly a fine batsman who is likely to cause problems for opposing bowlers.

Sparta will be hoping that he settles in quickly, since he will certainly be crucial to their prospects of avoiding an immediate return to the lower division.