Former captain Inzamam, hired as a consultant for the India tour, is reportedly not in the running anymore. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: With the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expected to name the national batting coach soon, former Test cricketer and chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed (Sallu) has called on the authorities to prefer a local coach instead of hiring a foreign expert.
According to reports, the PCB has decided to hire former New Zealand assistant coach Trent Woodhill, who is currently associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit Delhi Daredevils.
Woodhill is expected to fill in the vacant position for upcoming matches against Ireland and Scotland besides the ICC Champions Trophy. It is also being said that an extension to his job will be made on the basis of performance following these assignments.
‘Laurels achieved under Pakistani’
Reacting to chances of another foreigner joining the Pakistan coaching panel, which already comprises Dav Whatmore (head coach) and Julien Fountain (fielding), Salahuddin said the PCB must prefer a former batting great from Pakistan.
“We have many big names who can offer their services effectively,” said the former chief selector. “It’s an irony that we are seeking foreign coaches in presence of legendary batsmen in our own backyard.
“Zaheer Abbas, Inzamamul Haq or Saeed Anwar can be the best choices,” he said, before adding that the experience of a Pakistan-based coach with national team has always proved beneficial.
“Inzamam gave tips before the India tour where our batsmen showed significant improvement but he was ignored afterwards and we saw what happened to our batsmen in South Africa.”
“Similarly, Intikhab Alam was the coach when we won the 1992 World Cup. We also qualified for the final eight years later under the coaching of Mushtaq Mohammad.
“We are yet to see such an achievement under a foreign coach.”
The PCB’s coach hunt committee, led by Alam, is seeking a coach since 2012. However, calls to hire a batting coach gained momentum following the recent tour of South Africa where the batsmen fared poorly against a top-quality attack.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2013.
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