Fountain’s departure left the coaching panel with an onerous task on the field in the World T20 tournament. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK
Fielding has become an important component of modern day cricket and is considered even more vital in the 20-over format, often proving to be the difference between a win and a loss.
Pakistan start the championship after playing the final of the Asia Cup, where questions were raised on the team’s fielding performance — dropped catches costing the men in green dearly in the final loss against Sri Lanka.
For both Asia Cup and the World Twenty20, the fielders are under new fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad, a former Test opening batsman.
However, Shoaib was given just a few days to train the squad in a weeklong training camp ahead of the Asia Cup, after replacing Julien Fountain, who completed his two-year contract in February.
The experienced Fountain before departing said: “I passed on whatever nuances I could to my fellow coaches as well.”
According to an official close to the team management, but that was not the case.
Fountain, contrary to the claims, did not fully cooperate with the new team management despite taking an active part for a few days in the training camp.
“Fountain was busy in packing up for his departure from Lahore,” stated the official. “He claimed that he had a detailed report on each player’s performance [strength and weaknesses] in the field, yet he did not pass it on to the new coaching panel despite repeated reminders.”
The official said that the new management was not keen on bringing in new methods of training straight away, since the players were accustomed to Fountain’s fielding drills.
“It was agreed that players would not be burdened too much, to ensure that a new drill doesn’t injure them.”
Fountain, however, could not be approached for his version on the claims.
Afridi leaves for Bangladesh today
Star all-rounder Shahid Afridi will leave Monday morning to join the team in Bangladesh.
Afridi did not accompany the national squad as he had to undergo a fitness test for his groin injury.
The experienced cricketer will miss the team’s opening warm-up match against New Zealand Monday; however he hopes to play the second practice game against South Africa on March 19. Afridi said he was 90% fit and was confident about regaining complete form before the tournament. Pakistan are scheduled to play their opening match against India on March 21.
On the eve of his departure Afridi told The Express Tribune that he is fully focused on his performance. “I have had two training sessions in Karachi, and feel much better now,” he said. “I am focused on performing to the expectations of the nation in the crucial event”.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2014.
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@A. Khan: Shoaib Muhammad was one the best short leg & cover flieder in his days. He got average of 44 runs in 45 matches. Firs look at his record before commenting.
Not fielding, Pakistan batting will sink them in the WorldT20 plus their out of form bowling is also a huge concern. Fielding is a tertiary thing to start with
@A. Khan: I dont know about Shoaib's coaching skills but i do remember when he played he was one of the best fielders in the side. But what can Shoaib do when you have players like , kamran akmal, umer gul and Tanvir as fielders. We all have seen how bad Sharjeel and Sohaib are on the field. Afridi can barely bend or dive. I dont see this team doing much.
PCB should have thought twice before appointing a coach who will need the outgoing coac's help. What a shame Sethi like his 35 punctures
This was a highly unnecessary article that will only end up damaging Julian Fountain's respectability. He did a How do these internal matters make it to the press?
I'm 99% sure that Pakistan wont be able to make it to the last four with the current bowling attack coupled with the effort they make in the field.
Shoaib Mohammad as fielding coach ? I mean seriously ? When was Shoaib ever known for his fielding skills ?
Does the PCB just pass the positions around to retired cricketers so they can have a comfy retired life ? For good fielding, the first thing you need are fit players. An unfit player simply cannot a) get to the ball and b) bend down to stop it. If I recall correctly, all Pakistani players have the habit of trying to stop the ball at the boundary with their feet. 9 times out of 10, the ball hits the boundary rope. This shows that players are late in getting to the ball ie. they are slow, pointing back to their fitness. And they still haven't learnt to dive which saves a few milliseconds but crucially it can prevent a boundary. Needless to say but a tired player also have slower reflexes.
The old guard of Pakistan cricket and I am talking 70/80/90s, although very talented were never known for physical fitness, apart from Imran Khan, who personally made the effort to stay fit. How can the PCB expect to get a retired player from the old guard and get him to teach a skill he obviously lacked himself ? Its nothing personal, Shoaib, but you were not the greatest cricket of your days.
Bowlers lose tempo because of drop catches by Pakistani fielders .. so in T20 World Cup fielding should be improved means No drop Catches at all.