Bobat will be working closely with Chris Silverwood and Ed Smith © Getty

Mo Bobat has been appointed as the Performance Director for Men's Cricket, the England Cricket Board announced on Wednesday (October 9). Bobat, who has been working as the Player Identification Lead, will take over from David Parsons, who left the post in July this year.

Under his new role, Bobat will be working closely with the newly appointed head coach Chris Silverwood and the National Selector Ed Smith. "The position of Performance Director is a critical post in the development of our long-term strategy for elite performance," Managing Director of England's Men's Cricket Ashley Giles, said. "Mo demonstrated through his knowledge and experience that he has the attributes to take us forward in this area. He will be responsible for identifying our highest potential players and leading programmes that will bridge the gap between county and international cricket helping us to deliver successful, respected and inspiring England players and teams."

Bobat, who first began working with the ECB in 2011, was a lecturer in Leicester. Having already studied sports science and management, the 36-year-old is now in the process of completing a Masters in sporting directorship. Appointed as the England men's Player Identification Lead in 2016, Bobat was credited for his role in the identification of prospective England players.

"I am delighted and honoured to be appointed Performance Director, at what is an exciting time for English cricket," Bobat said following the appointment. "I am looking forward to working closely with both Chris Silverwood and Ed Smith, and in doing so, supporting the performance needs of our England teams and moving us closer to achieving our aim of being the most respected team in the world."

"Developing strong relationships with our counties to enhance the size and quality of our talent pool will be paramount. I aim to ensure that our highest potential players receive individualised support and international-specific experiences," he further added.