Pakistan does not need a batting coach: Ijaz Butt

World Cup 2011 preliminary squad expected to be named by the end of the month.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused calls for hiring a batting coach with chairman Ijaz Butt saying that Test teams do not need consultants to overcome their weaknesses.

Following Pakistan’s dismal batting performance of late, the PCB has come under heavy criticism for not hiring a batting coach for a squad that has two former fast bowlers as part of its coaching staff.

“Players at this level do not require someone to learn batting from,” the chairman told a press conference following board’s governing board meeting in Lahore. “If any of the players needs a batting coach then he’s not fit to play at this level.”

The PCB chairman, however, refused to take any responsibility for the team’s poor performance and thus passed on the spotlight to the selectors and the coaches who, according to him, should be questioned on the issue.

World Cup probables to be named

The chairman said that Pakistan’s probables for next year’s World Cup will be announced after the team’s ongoing series against South Africa.

“The 30-man preliminary squad will be announced on November 30 and players who perform well on the UAE tour would get preference.”

PCB not to support suspended trio

The PCB chief added that the board would continue its stance of not supporting the suspended players following the dismissal of their appeal by International Cricket Council.

“The PCB is not helping the players and they won’t be considered for team selection until a clearance from the ICC is issued. Meanwhile, our lawyers are preparing a case and we would start legal action against The Sun for the match-fixing allegations [that were proven false].”

Seven members, including the PCB’s Director-General Javed Miandad, attended the governing body meeting that also discussed measures taken after the ICC guidelines.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2010.