Miandad unimpressed with Woodhill’s appointment
PCB director general terms it a mistake on the part of ‘those who recommended him’.
Fielding has been Pakistan’s weak area for a long time and that was the focus as the training camp began in Abbottabad yesterday. PHOTO: FILE AFP
ABBOTABAD:
Former captain Javed Miandad expressed discontent on the appointment of Trent Woodhill as the national team’s batting coach, terming it a mistake on the part of those who recommended the Australian.
The appointment of Woodill, who is currently associated with the Indian Premier League’s outfit Delhi Daredevils, drew heavy criticism from former Pakistan cricketers and Miandad, a serving director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), showed no difference of opinion.
“There are many things that I want to say but I cannot express myself,” said Miandad who appeared on the opening day of the training camp at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, where he came on the directives of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf to work with the team’s batsmen.
“It’s not in my domain to say anything. It’s a mistake on the part of those who recommended his appointment. I would only recommend a capable person.”
The PCB coach-hunt committee, led by Intikhab Alam, preferred the Australian over the legendary Zaheer Abbas and Inzamamul Haq on the basis of his qualification as a certified coach.
On his role in the training camp, Miandad said he was just there to offer help to the struggling batsmen.
“They have all been trained and are professionals. If some player needs assistance from me I am available. I’ve also worked with the team in different training camps in the past and the results are in front of everyone.”
Meanwhile, the former captain advised the team not to take the Champions Trophy tournament on their nerves.
“We didn’t even take the World Cup on our nerves. The team needs to take the tournament as routine cricket and go without mental pressure.”
He refused to term any team favourites for the competition.
“These will be open games. The team that play well on the day will win. All the players will have to take responsibility and perform their roles.”
First day’s proceedings
Over 4,000 feet above sea-level, the picturesque Abbottabad Cricket Stadium (ACS) removed all the travel fatigue from the Pakistan team that began preparations within hours of their arrival at the venue.
Except for Junaid Khan, who took a day off due to domestic commitments, all the team members in addition to five aspiring fast-bowlers attended the opening session in Abbottabad designed to prepare the team for upcoming tours of Scotland and Ireland, besides the prestigious Champions Trophy.
The players looked keen and positive as they underwent an energetic opening session that was confined to fielding.
Pakistan’s head coach Dav Whatmore started the training session with catching practice that has been the team’s Achilles’ heel.
However, the Pakistan coach said all aspects will be worked on during the camp.
“It’s the first time that a final team has assembled,” Whatmore said after the opening training session at ACS. We are very keen to extract the best from this camp in these six days.”
The coach, who is supervising a camp for the first time in Abbottabad, was impressed with the venue. “It’s a good venue. The high altitude is an added bonus because when you get back to sea-level you get more oxygen.”
Doing the best we can, says Whatmore
Pakistan head coach Whatmore, who completed one year with the Pakistan team in March, also responded to criticism from former cricketers after the South Africa tour, in which the team suffered a whitewash in the Test rubber and lost the ODIs 3-2.
The coach said he was giving the best possible training to the players.
To a query on his responsibility to guide the talented, but struggling Umar Akmal, the coach refused to share the blame.
“We try to help every batsman. We give them every possible information and guidance. Ultimately the player goes out on the field and if I could, in any way possible, go there and help in the batting, bowling or fielding departments I will do that. But it’s not possible.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.
Former captain Javed Miandad expressed discontent on the appointment of Trent Woodhill as the national team’s batting coach, terming it a mistake on the part of those who recommended the Australian.
The appointment of Woodill, who is currently associated with the Indian Premier League’s outfit Delhi Daredevils, drew heavy criticism from former Pakistan cricketers and Miandad, a serving director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), showed no difference of opinion.
“There are many things that I want to say but I cannot express myself,” said Miandad who appeared on the opening day of the training camp at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, where he came on the directives of PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf to work with the team’s batsmen.
“It’s not in my domain to say anything. It’s a mistake on the part of those who recommended his appointment. I would only recommend a capable person.”
The PCB coach-hunt committee, led by Intikhab Alam, preferred the Australian over the legendary Zaheer Abbas and Inzamamul Haq on the basis of his qualification as a certified coach.
On his role in the training camp, Miandad said he was just there to offer help to the struggling batsmen.
“They have all been trained and are professionals. If some player needs assistance from me I am available. I’ve also worked with the team in different training camps in the past and the results are in front of everyone.”
Meanwhile, the former captain advised the team not to take the Champions Trophy tournament on their nerves.
“We didn’t even take the World Cup on our nerves. The team needs to take the tournament as routine cricket and go without mental pressure.”
He refused to term any team favourites for the competition.
“These will be open games. The team that play well on the day will win. All the players will have to take responsibility and perform their roles.”
First day’s proceedings
Over 4,000 feet above sea-level, the picturesque Abbottabad Cricket Stadium (ACS) removed all the travel fatigue from the Pakistan team that began preparations within hours of their arrival at the venue.
Except for Junaid Khan, who took a day off due to domestic commitments, all the team members in addition to five aspiring fast-bowlers attended the opening session in Abbottabad designed to prepare the team for upcoming tours of Scotland and Ireland, besides the prestigious Champions Trophy.
The players looked keen and positive as they underwent an energetic opening session that was confined to fielding.
Pakistan’s head coach Dav Whatmore started the training session with catching practice that has been the team’s Achilles’ heel.
However, the Pakistan coach said all aspects will be worked on during the camp.
“It’s the first time that a final team has assembled,” Whatmore said after the opening training session at ACS. We are very keen to extract the best from this camp in these six days.”
The coach, who is supervising a camp for the first time in Abbottabad, was impressed with the venue. “It’s a good venue. The high altitude is an added bonus because when you get back to sea-level you get more oxygen.”
Doing the best we can, says Whatmore
Pakistan head coach Whatmore, who completed one year with the Pakistan team in March, also responded to criticism from former cricketers after the South Africa tour, in which the team suffered a whitewash in the Test rubber and lost the ODIs 3-2.
The coach said he was giving the best possible training to the players.
To a query on his responsibility to guide the talented, but struggling Umar Akmal, the coach refused to share the blame.
“We try to help every batsman. We give them every possible information and guidance. Ultimately the player goes out on the field and if I could, in any way possible, go there and help in the batting, bowling or fielding departments I will do that. But it’s not possible.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.