PCB may consider idea of batting coach

Following Pakistan’s heavy loss against England in the first Test, the PCB is pondering over to hire a batting...

KARACHI: Following Pakistan’s heavy loss against England in the first Test, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), following its earlier hesitancy to hire a batting coach, has pondered over a reversal in light of the disastrous batting performance at Trent Bridge.

Although the list of officials present with the side in England includes three coaches - Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed and Ijaz Ahmed - the absence of senior players complemented by the influx of youth in the squad has forced the PCB to discuss an addition to the coaching staff.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, who ignored repeated offers from Javed Miandad to coach the young batsmen, admitted that the batting line-up which also includes youngsters with little experience needs a batting consultant.

“We’re thinking of hiring a batting consultant as we look forward to rope in

youngsters into the team,” Butt told The Express Tribune.

The news comes a day after former captain Inzamamul Haq expressed his desire to work with the young squad as a batting coach. Butt confirmed that he was considering Inzamam’s offer and will discuss it with the former captain soon.

“I’ll speak to him after I return from England and a decision will be taken after that. However, I don’t feel we need to panic just yet. It was the first match of the series and we can bounce back like we did against Australia.”

Another former captain Aamir Sohail, however, advised Inzamam to gain coaching experience before starting his career as a mentor.

“Inzamam was a great batsman but coaching is a different job which needs different skills,” he told a local television channel adding that not every great batsman can be a good coach.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2010.