Pakistan’s fielding quandary: Fountain snubbed new coaching panel
Former fielding coach failed to submit players’ report, claims official .
Fountain’s departure left the coaching panel with an onerous task on the field in the World T20 tournament. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK
KARACHI:
To say fielding is a major concern for former champions Pakistan ahead of the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 would not qualify as an overstatement.
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.
To say fielding is a major concern for former champions Pakistan ahead of the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 would not qualify as an overstatement.
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.