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.

Miandad discusses coaching future with Afridi

 

 “It's the right time to look ahead for the future and start preparing for the next World Cup. We have to look for players who could be there in 2015 (World Cup) and, if they have potential, we should start giving them proper chances.” -Photo by AP Dawn News updates

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad will consider an offer to become the national team’s batting coach after the tour of West Indies.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and one-day captain Shahid Afridi tried to persuade Miandad to take up the job after India defeated Pakistan in the World Cup semifinals last month.

“I had detailed meetings with Mr. Butt and Afridi, but I told them that I could not travel with the team to the West Indies,” Miandad told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The Pakistan team leaves for the West Indies next week for one Twenty20 match, five ODIs and two tests.“I think the tour of West Indies is not a tough one,” Miandad said. “After this tour I might consider taking up the coaching assignment.”

Pakistan has made wholesale changes from the World Cup, dropping out-of-form wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and allrounder Abdul Razzaq for the tour.Fast bowler Umar Gul has requested to be rested, while experienced batsman Younis Khan will also sit out the ODIs.Miandad retired from test cricket in 1993 after scoring a Pakistan record 8,832 runs from 124 matches.

He also scored 7,381 runs in 233 ODIs, playing his last limited-overs game against archrival India at the 1996 World Cup. His six World Cup appearances is only matched by Sachin Tendulkar, who won the 2011 tournament with India defeating Sri Lanka in the final.Since his retirement from international cricket, Miandad has coached the national team three times and is presently serving as the PCB director general.

Waqar Younis, a former test fast bowler and captain, is the head coach of Pakistan. Another ex-test fast bowler, Aqib Javed, is the bowling consultant.However, it is Pakistan’s batting which has been struggling in international cricket for more than a year and critics believe the team needs a batting coach.“I believe that once a batsman is selected for the national team you can’t change his technique,” Miandad said.“You can only teach him the finer points of the game, like how to handle various bowlers on different pitches.”

Pakistan has picked uncapped batsman Usman Salahuddin, allrounder Hammad Azam and fast bowlers Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan for the tour of West Indies.Miandad believes selectors have made the right decision by picking promising youngsters from the domestic circuit to give them international exposure.“It’s the right time to look ahead for the future and start preparing for the next World Cup,” he said. “We have to look for players who could be there in 2015 (World Cup) and, if they have potential, we should start giving them proper chances.”

Miandad urges India, Pakistan to build bridges

Shahid Afridi and his men will have to play with lot of unity and withstand a lot of pressure to win the match: Javed Miandad.—AFP photo Dawn News Updates

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad on Tuesday urged estranged rivals India and Pakistan to take advantage of their much-hyped World Cup semi-final clash and build bridges.

Both countries are expected to come to a standstill on Wednesday with millions of cricket fans glued to the match in Mohali, to be watched in person by the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers despite frosty diplomatic ties.Miandad, currently director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said it was a “golden opportunity” to increase understanding, two years after the 2008 Mumbai attacks killed 166 people and suspended peace talks.“We should send a delegation including our former great sportsmen and women and some people from the entertainment industry as a gesture of goodwill towards Indian people, that’s how people of both countries will come close.”

Miandad, who played 124 Tests and 233 one-day matches during an illustrious career, praised Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for inviting Pakistan’s prime minister and president to watch the match.“I have full praise for Mr Singh… I have always believed that people in both countries want to have friendlier ties and more understanding but at times circumstances have dictated something else,” said Miandad.

Miandad, who toured India as team coach in 1999 and who is remembered for his last-ball six which helped Pakistan beat India in a one-day in Sharjah in 1986, said cricket had again brought the arch rivals closer.“I have always believed that cricket has that power and it is something that is a passion in both countries and it can be used as a very positive tool to improve relations and remove misunderstandings,” said Miandad.

Miandad said having Pakistan cricket hero Imran Khan doing commentary in India was also a help.

“Imran is very popular in India and I am sure his presence can improve people to people contact. He along with many other Pakistani cricketers are household names in India, so they can play a part,” said Miandad.“It is tough to say who will win, but my heart says its Pakistan.“But Shahid Afridi and his men will have to play with lot of unity and withstand a lot of pressure to win the match and they are capable of doing this,” said Miandad, urging the teams to calm their fans.

“Players should appeal to fans not to overreact in case of their team is defeated. I also appeal to fans to take it as a game and don’t show anger.”