Bowling coach to be head-hunter too: Intikhab

Akram refused admin role, appointment to be made before SL tour.

KARACHI: It seems that Pakistan cricket authorities are finally looking ahead to the future.

Following the appointment of Dav Whatmore as the national side’s head coach, the Australian was also present during the under-19 trials for the World Cup as well as supervising drills and training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Now, according to the coach-hunt committee chief Intikhab Alam, the bowling coach, who is due to be appointed before the team sets off for Sri Lanka on May 29, will also have these additional tasks in order to identify potential national-squad players.

“We realised the importance of grooming talent earlier and that’s why youth was included in the playing-eleven besides the seniors that we have,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “Now, with Whatmore here in Pakistan, we want this process to be formalised and the coach to not only identify talent but also play his part in grooming it.

“We will hand over similar responsibilities to the bowling coach when he’s selected. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman wants the best man for the job and we’ll make sure his skills are not only restricted to the national squad but utilised properly elsewhere as well. At times when the team is not on a tour, all our coaches will be at the NCA or conducting programmes organised by the PCB so that our plans keeping the future in mind are implemented adequately.”

Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammad Akram have reportedly been shortlisted for the position left vacant after Aqib Javed’s departure for the UAE.

While Mushtaq was part of the England team set-up until its tour of Sri Lanka, Akram, who has played county and club cricket in England, is running an academy in London, while also coaching in colleges.

However, according to a PCB official, Akram was offered an administration role at the NCA which the former fast-bowler was reluctant to accept since he wanted an on-field role.

“Akram has experience and is qualified,” said the official. “He’s coaching in England right now and although the decision on the bowling coach hasn’t been made yet, he was offered an admin role within the NCA which he declined.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2012.