Hanif urges PCB to appoint new batting coach

Published March 2, 2016
Pakistan's Sharjeel Khan walks off the pitch during Asia Cup T20 match against India in Dhaka on February 27, 2016. — AFP/File
Pakistan's Sharjeel Khan walks off the pitch during Asia Cup T20 match against India in Dhaka on February 27, 2016. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Test cricket legend Hanif Muhammad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint a new batting coach for the national team, citing poor showing by the batsmen in recent times.

Hanif said “current coach Waqar Younis cannot teach batting to the players” and therefore there is a dire need of appointing a new batting coach.

“The coach should be from Pakistan so he can manage the players well,” he added.

Hanif said in the Asia Cup Twenty20 opener against India, Pakistani batsmen batted poorly and therefore the bowlers were unable to defend such a low total.

“Our bowlers bowled magnificently but were unable to defend such a low total,” he said, adding Pakistan should have in their minds a target of about 130-150 when they bat first.

“It is very unfortunate that our batsmen couldn’t even stand at the crease for 20 overs when they batted first,” he added.

Hanif, who was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968, also said Khurram Manzoor should have been sent in to open instead of Muhammad Hafeez.

“Hafeez is good at one down and should have been sent at this number,” he said.

The batting great believes that Pakistan’s T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is a good captain.

“Afridi is a very good captain and it was bad luck that he got run out against India otherwise he would have scored well,” Hanif said.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2016

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

FACED with high inflation and bleak economic prospects nationally, the workers of Pakistan have little to celebrate...
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...