ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson believes Mickey Arthur should use the expertise of ex-players like Javed Mian­dad and Wasim Akram to improve the game, saying their experience is valuable and you have to use it.

Lawson said Arthur should understand the local culture first rather than try to force his viewpoint.

“As long as he (Arthur) understands how the local culture works and how to get the best out of the players, he will succeed,” he said.

Lawson said there will be pressure from ex-players and the media, but as long as Arthur gets them on their side, he will do fine.

“It is a big advantage to be a foreign coach in Pakistan as you don’t have to worry about what other people think. Rather than fighting with ex-players, he needs to get them on his side.

“Their experience is valuable and you got to use it. During my time, I tried to get former players to come and speak to the team.

“It would be silly not to use the experience of the likes of Wasim Akram or Javed Miandad,” he said.

Lawson said if you go as coach into another system, you have to understand how it works.

“You can grow a certain culture, but you can’t transplant it somewhere else. You have to try and work with the present one. That is what coaches have to do and that is part of their job. Arthur probably didn’t understand how the Australian culture work­­ed and he got sacked,” he said.

He added there is always an outside influence, but whet­her to bow to it is in your hands.

“During my time, I was one of the selectors. There were three other selectors and the captain. If someone else selects the team, you have to do your best you can with it, rather than fretting over it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016

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