Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has said that he has been signed by Zimbabwe Cricket to work with their national team as a batting consultant.

"It's a well-structured contract. I'm definitely looking forward to working with the team," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lara, as saying.

The 41-year-old will work with Zimbabwe during the 2011 World Cup, and the home Test series against Bangladesh in May.

The series against Bangladesh will mark the country's return to Test cricket after a five-year absence.

Lara, who retired from international cricket in 2008, is currently playing for a local Zimbabwean team in a Twenty20 tournament.