In an interview, Abbas, a member of the three-man committee formed to find a suitable candidate in place of outgoing coach Waqar, said that he was ready to serve the country if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) needed him.
“If the PCB needs me I’ll be available for the job,” said Abbas.
The former cricketer, also known as the Asian Bradman, added that he agreed on becoming a member of the committee after being asked by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt. Former team manager Intikhab Alam heads the committee that also comprises former wicket-keeper Naushad Ali as the third member who are assisted by another former captain Ramiz Raja.
Meanwhile, Abbas also stressed the need for a head coach who could help the struggling batsmen in the Pakistan team.
“We’re still struggling in the batting department. We need a batsman to become the coach so the players can learn from him.”
The PCB will meet this week to finalise the coaching candidate as Waqar steps down after the ongoing Zimbabwe tour.
The committee, which was named late last month will formally start working from this week, according to Alam.
Various suggestions have flooded reports after Waqar said he will step down after the Zimbabwe tour.
While former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson advocated the recruitment of a foreigner for the post, former Test cricketers including Mudassar Nazar called for a local coach for the side.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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How about Butt Sahib as coach as well. He once was a Test cricketer too. And he has good credentials with the Patron.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Zaheer Abbas has been an honest and sincere test and one day player of Pakistan and he must be given a chance to serve the PCB as a coach.
Great News!
Zaheer Abbas was a good Player and hopefully proves himself as a good Coach as well.
Thank You! SYED ALI MEHDI
We need an active and physically fit coach, who can actually bat and show the players how to stay at the wicket. I have mentioned before that Mohd Yousuf can be a great "playing coach". He can actually go toe to toe with current players and teach them several things they are doing wrong. No player has been more sure at the wicket than M. Yousus and his batting record speaks for itself. By having MY as player/coach would be a great tribute to his services to the nation. Zaheer Abbas may be a geat player in 1970's and 80's but can he stay at the ground all day with the young players?
@Waheed: I am an Indian. I love Saeed Anwar's batting. He is a very good batsman what Pakistan has ever produced. He was a good stroke player, can anytime turn into a hard hitter. I also like Mushtaq Ahmed (leggie). I think Pakistan needs players who can consistently play well and obey the team management and respect captain. They also need to have high moral values (not to involve in anything) to be respected by others. They need to scale down the aggression for quite some time which traditionally worked for them. All these can give confidence and increase performance to many folds.
No, Zaheer Abbas was never a good man manager. He wasnt a good captain as many rebellions were seen under his captaincy. I dont think he'll be a good captain
He is a member of committe to find coach and he himself presents himself as a coach. Isn't it called conflict of interests. He should be disqaulified to apply as a coach and also kicked out from committe.
Zaheer Abbas was a great batsman of his era but he was not a great leader. To be a coach, one must possess leadership qualities. When he was appointed captain of Pakistan team and some top but opportunist players like Imran Khan (weather was too hot for him) and Abdul Qadir (he was building his house) refused to go to India, Zaheer planned to play defensive cricket in absence of star players. During one of the test matches, if he had shown some aggression, Pakistan could have easily won test match and series but as Zaheer had promised to play safe, he did not take that chance. As a batsman, he showed great innovation but as a leader he did not and such person cannot be a good coach.
Pakistan have not produced any capable batsman after Inzamam and Saeed Anwar to be a good coach which could remove flaws in batting of our players. So, Zaheer Abbas could be a very good option, with Shoaib Akhtar as a bowling and assistant coach.
@Shafaaqat: Asad Shafiq.
Zaheer should be batting coach only and PAK can't have a better batting coach than this man. He can bring a lot of value. Team should employ both batting and bowling coach. Fielding coaches should be provided to all teams at the domestic levels. With Zaheer in charge, we can expect a lot from the likes of Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali and the other young guy from Karachi, just forgot his name.
@Malik Sajjad: Good player IS NOT EQUAL TO good coach. By your logic, Bob Woolmer should've been the worst coach ever. (Not that i am against Zaheer Abbas, just pointing out a very basic flaw in your argument).
Zaheer Abbas was a good Player and hopefully proves himself as a good Coach as well.