Talks fail as Miandad turns down coaching offer

After returning from the World Cup, Afridi was vocal about the need for a batting coach and wanted Miandad to take up the job. —File photo by AFP    Dawn News Up dates

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has turned down an offer to become the national cricket team’s batting coach, reports said Tuesday.
Miandad was approached by Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt to take up the job of coaching the batsmen, after the team returned from the World Cup. The batting great, however, turned down the offer citing personal reasons.
“The Pakistan team surely needs a batting coach and the board approached Miandad, but he unfortunately declined the offer because of personal reasons,” team manager Intikhab Alam was quoted as saying by cricket website Cricinfo.
It is understood, however, that Miandad will help the batsmen during the team’s practice sessions in Pakistan, as he did prior to the tour of New Zealand late last year.
After returning from the World Cup, Afridi was vocal about the need for a batting coach, as none of Pakistan’s batsmen managed to score a century during the tournament.
Miandad has previously had three coaching stints with the national team, with the last term ending in 2004.
Pakistan leave for the tour of West Indies on Thursday, April 14, for a one off Twenty20 international, five one-day internationals and two Test matches.