Former head coach advices Arthur to consult Pakistani greats

Geoff Lawson asks Pakistan's head coach to utilise the experience of legends like Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad

Former Pakistan head coach Geoff Lawson said Mickey Arthur should consult with legends like Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad during his spell as national team’s coach.

In an interview with Mid-Day, former Australia right-arm pacer said Arthur should understand the local culture first before trying to force his own viewpoint during his tenure as Pakistan team’s head coach. “As long as Arthur understands how the local cricket culture works and how to get the best out of players, he’ll succeed,” he said.

Lawson went on to say that in order to succeed as a unit, the South African should get former players on his side because there is a lot of pressure involved from ex-players and media in Pakistan. “Rather than fighting with former players, Arthur needs to get them on his side because their experience is valuable, which could be utilised,” he said. “It would be silly not to use the experience of the likes of Wasim Akram or Javed Miandad,” he added.



The 58-year-old said that foreign coaches need to understand the local cricket culture and work with it before trying to change or modify it. “If you go as coach into another system, you have to understand how it works. You have to try and work with the present culture,” he said. “That’s what coaches have to do and that is part of their job.”

The former Pakistan coach also attributed Arthur’s short stint as Australia’s head coach to the latter’s inability to understand Australian cricket culture. “Arthur probably didn’t understand how the Australian culture worked and he got sacked,” he said.



Lawson said that former South African coach might face outside influence during national team’s selection, but it is how he handles it which will decide his success as Pakistan’s coach. “Even though I was one of the selectors along with three other selectors and the captain, at times I got outvoted,” he said. “If someone else selects the team, you have to do the best you can with it, rather than fretting over it.”