Inzamam offers to coach Pakistan’s struggling batsmen

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has offered his services as a batting coach for the national side as they struggle to score runs in England.

“The team definitely needs a full-time batting coach and if any offer is made to me for this position, I will definitely give it serious consideration,” said Inzamam.

Pakistan’s batting line-up has struggled in English conditions and conceded a 172-run first-innings lead against England after allowing the hosts to score 354. In the two-Test ‘home’ series against Australia last month, Pakistan were unable to score more than 250 runs in any innings, although they won the second Test at Leeds after bowling Australia out for 88 on the first day.

Pakistan also suffered when selectors overlooked former captains and experienced batsmen Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf for the tour despite public pressure to include them.

Inzamam, Pakistan’s most capped player with 120 Test and 378 One-Day International appearances, said that the present team was not equipped technically to handle Test matches. “They need a batting coach to guide them and it is a responsibility I would consider accepting because Pakistan cricket has given me a lot. The batsmen are not playing with the required technique and temperament. They lack patience and get out after scoring 20 to 30 which is not good enough for Test matches.”

Inzamam believes Pakistan’s biggest problem is that players have grown too accustomed to playing limited-overs cricket and find it difficult to adjust to Test matches.

“Even a good batsman requires a year or so in Test cricket to settle down and play long innings. I would advise the selectors to try out a combination of senior and young players. And they should use Younus and Yousuf.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2010.