LAHORE, Dec 16: Pakistan’s former cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has said Geoff Lawson’s lack of experience as a coach at international level was one of the factors behind Pakistan’s recent ODI and Test series defeats against India.

“(Shoaib) Malik is young, learning and needs strong support. Unfortunately, Lawson is new to international cricket and is in a learning phase. Malik needs someone experienced to back and support him,” Inzamam said.

The former skippper, who returned home after playing in the Indian Cricket League, said former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore would have been a better option for Pakistan.

“I don’t know what the PCB was thinking while appointing Lawson and ignoring someone experienced like Whatmore,” he criticised.

Inzamam said it was unfair to expect too much from Malik too soon, “I think we need to be patient with Malik and give him reasonable time to adjust to his new role as captain. Captaining side in Twenty20 cricket and Test matches are two totally different things and Malik will learn that with time.”

He blamed the team management for Pakistan’s poor show in India as they had allowed players to get indulged in non-cricketing activities.

“Players were focusing too much on social and cultural activities in India which affected their cricket.

“There is nothing wrong in taking part in such activities. But they must not forget that they went there to play cricket and that was their foremost duty,” he said.—PPI