Miandad ready to assist Pakistan

Former captain Javed Miandad says he is always available for serving the country, Wasim Akram applauds move.

KARACHI: Former captain Javed Miandad is ready to assist the team following Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) offer to appoint him as a batting consultant.

Miandad, also an incumbent director general of the PCB, said he was always available for serving the country.

“If the board wants me to take the responsibility, I am ready as I always want to serve Pakistan cricket,” said the batting legend who returned from China after the Asian Games.

The PCB was facing criticism by various quarters for not including a batting consultant in the team’s panel of coaches that includes two former fast-bowlers - head coach Waqar Younis and bowling adviser Aaqib Javed.

Pakistan batting flopped during the England tour as the team lost all the series against the hosts. The PCB then felt the need to overcome the batting woes after the UAE tour that concluded last week and offered Miandad the role for the upcoming New Zealand tour.

Miandad, who has had three stints as Pakistan coach, said he would work with the players in the team’s training camp to overcome the glitches.

“I have also worked with the players several times in the past and would give my best to overcome the batsmen’s weaknesses,” said the former captain while playing down suggestions of becoming a full-time coach. “I have a busy schedule and it would not be possible for me to take a full-time coaching job.”

Meanwhile, the PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar has said the terms and conditions with Miandad will be finalised today. The camp for the tour is expected to start from December 8 in Lahore before the team leaves for New Zealand to play two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20s.

Wasim applauds move

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram welcomed the pending appointment of Miandad as a batting adviser saying the players would surely benefit from his experience. “He is a great fighter and the team should learn from him,” said Akram in an interview.

The legendary fast-bowler also believed that Miandad’s inclusion would balance the coaching panel since it already had two fast-bowlers.

“If Waqar, Aaqib and Miandad combine well, it would be a huge benefit for Pakistan. They can do wonders as long as they work together,” said Akram who was the captain of the team which Miandad coached in 1998-99.

‘Cricket a welcome inclusion at Asiad’

Miandad who is also China’s cricket ambassador, felt the inclusion of the sport was a good sign at the recently-held Asian Games in Guangzhou.

“All the countries were delighted to see their teams competing at this international level. It was also good to see China performing in the Asian Games.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2010.