Andrew Flintoff signed a contract extension to remain England Lions coach late last year.

The former England all-rounder was appointed in September 2024 on an initial one-year deal.

BBC Sport understands that Flintoff now has a contract through to January 2027, but the new terms were not announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) at the time they were agreed.

The 48-year-old would be seen as a potential candidate to become head coach of the senior team if Brendon McCullum leaves his post, though Flintoff has previously said he does not want the job.

Flintoff was in charge of the Lions on their tour to Australia in November and December, when they shadowed the senior squad during the 4-1 Ashes defeat.

The Lions provided the opposition for England’s only Ashes warm-up game, then were thrashed by an innings in their unofficial ‘Test’ against Australia A.

Flintoff will lead the Lions in a white-ball series against the Pakistan Shaheens from next Friday. England Test captain Ben Stokes and former all-rounder Moeen Ali will be among the coaching staff in the UAE.

Flintoff returned to cricket in 2023 following a crash on the set of Top Gear – the BBC TV show which he presented – that left him with facial injuries.

He has spent time with the England white-ball team and had two seasons in charge of Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. He announced in October he had left the Superchargers – now rebranded as Sunrisers Leeds – saying he was “worth more” than what the franchise’s new owners, Sun Group, had offered him.

Flintoff is close friends with England director of cricket Rob Key and has a long association with ECB chairman Richard Thompson through the Saatchi talent management agency.

In January of last year, Flintoff’s son Rocky, then aged 16, became the youngest man to score a century for the Lions when he reached three figures against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.

All-rounder Rocky is currently out of contract with Lancashire, but is expected to sign a new deal at Old Trafford. He turns 18 in April.

Corey Flintoff, a 19-year-old seamer, signed a two-year deal with Kent at the beginning of last season.