Globe-trotting Moles revels in game’s most dangerous job

CANBERRA: No-one can accuse Afghanistan coach Andy Moles of ducking a challenge. The no-nonsense 54-year-old is one of cricket’s globe-trotters.
Now he can also lay claim to being the holder of possibly the sport’s most dangerous job — coach of war-weary Afghanistan who will make their debut in the World Cup on Wednesday against Bangladesh in Canberra.
Moles took over at Afghanistan in September last year, succeeding Kabir Khan who had taken the team to a maiden World Cup.
“When I’m in Kabul, I literally don’t go out. I stay in the hotel, go from the hotel to the office, go back to the hotel, lock the door and then stay there until the next day,” Moles told Britain’s Independent newspaper. “I take as much sensible care as I can to make sure I don’t expose myself.”
Moles has had a roller-coaster coaching career. He coached Griqualand West in South Africa before going on to coach Kenya in 2003. Exhausted by their internal struggles, he left in 2005.
His next port of call was Scotland. Moles led them to the ICC Trophy but he was on his way again after falling out with players.
Northern Districts in New Zealand was next on his CV before the Black Caps signed him up to replace John Bracewell as coach in 2008. That too didn’t last long, with Moles leaving within a year.