Sports

No need for new batting coach: Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram is of the view that the current Pakistan outfit need mental toughness and not an exclusive batting coach.

August 09, 2010

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is of the view that the current Pakistan outfit need mental toughness and not an exclusive batting coach.

"By introducing a coach, the technique of our batsmen will not change overnight. It amuses me when I read reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is looking for a batting coach," he wrote in an article for the website espnstar.sports.com.

Akram said obviously, Pakistan's poor show in England had 'inspired' the PCB to mull over an 'exclusive' batting coach but a coach would not be able to radically change the technique needed to negotiate a moving ball in English conditions.

"Even if the PCB appoints a batting coach, the question is who should be the right man? I have read reports where Inzi (Inzamam-ul-Haq) wants to be the coach. Inzi has been one of Pakistan's best batsmen and his experience can surely come in handy, but when Pakistan already has someone like Ejaz Ahmed in the coaching staff, why look beyond?"

The erstwhile speedster said the current fielding coach Ahmed was absolutely capable of teaching the lads a few things about batting as well. "During his heydays, Ejaz was a good batsman and he can come in handy. What the boys need is mental toughness and the current team management, including Waqar, can surely pass on a few tips," he added.

He said he had recently written that in spite of beating Australia at Headingley in July, the series against England would be a stiff test for the young Pakistan team. "My worst fears have come true as Pakistan struggled throughout the second Test at Birmingham."

COMMENTS (7)

shahid | 14 years ago | Reply As for Wasim Akram's statement about Ejaz Ahmed as batting coach, I do not agree with his abilities to coach a national team. Look what he did in his position as fielding coach. His performance is zero because the team dropped dozens of catches. We can not compare Ejaz with Inzimam as the latter is one of the best batsman this country has ever produced.

Ilyas Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply I don't think Pakistan needs any batting coach,what they need is,the team picked on merit, I am sure there are loads of players out there in Pakistan,who are better then this current bunch of useless,lazy,and self serving players,they can't bat,they can't field,they can't catch,then wot good a batting coach will do,what Pakistan cricket need is a board witch picks team on it's merits,and not on personal like and dislikes,get rid of ijaz butt and co,and bring in people who care about the country,and themselves.but can we find thease honest peoples in Pakistan?

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Rizwan | 14 years ago | Reply no need for the fourth coach.

Sarwar from Karachi | 14 years ago | Reply I think Wasim is right because of reasons:- 1. There is no need of batting coach we must give time to Waqar and Salma as coach and captain to establish a new young teas until 2011. After that we can question from both of them. 2. As appointing new batting coach he would come with his thoughts and point of views and it will become a new politics in team. 3. As far as appointment of Inzi as batting coach i think no need to appoint a lazy coach for our team his own performance in his last few years were also question mark sorry for inzi. 4. We must give chances to deserving young players who dont have source and they are most talented then our problem could solve.

JAFFAR IQBAL | 14 years ago | Reply in my opnion wasim akram is tellling right thing it will take some time for youngestor to b test batsman therfore pcb should not remove any one

sarah | 14 years ago | Reply pakistan's cricket team needs a miracle at the moment esp in test cricket

hamza | 14 years ago | Reply they already have three coaches! aqib, waqar and ejaz and i think those three are one of the top class players of Pakistan! if we still need a coach then higher a girl of six years old if they really want to spoil country's money! Why they don't learn cricket in first class and A level so that they don't need a batting coach or simply make a rule that a guy cannot play international level unless until he doesn't plays at least 3-5 years of first class cricket!

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