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LAHORE: Controversial former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar threw his hat into the ring on Friday to become Pakistan's next bowling coach.
Pakistan have been hunting for a bowling coach since appointing Australian Dav Whatmore as head coach in March, with former Essex paceman Ian Pont the leading contender.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set up a three-man committee to find a suitable candidate but so far nothing has been finalised.
“I am ready to be the bowling coach for Pakistan,” Akhtar, 37, told reporters. “If the PCB contacts me then I will offer my services.”
The paceman, whose career was plagued by fitness and discipline problems, retired from cricket after the World Cup last year and has since been involved in business.
He took 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 in 163 one-day internationals.
“It's an honour to serve the country and it can be done by helping the upcoming bowlers. It will give me a chance to pay back what the country has given me,” said Akhtar.
Pakistan face Australia in a limited-overs series in the United Arab Emirates from August 28, with three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s.
Akhtar said Pakistan will miss fast bowler Umar Gul who was not selected for the ODIs.
“Both Gul and Brett Lee will be missed in the series,” said Akhtar. “But it will be a good series and bowlers will play a key role.”
Lee, considered as quick as Akhtar, retired from international cricket last month.
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Comments (34) Closed
Aug 17, 2012 04:13pm
You gotta be kidding!!! Right?
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Aug 17, 2012 05:09pm
This is rediculous. A person plagued with disciplinary problems wants to be the coach of the team?? Shoaib doesn't have only 1 notorious action against his name in the past. As skillfull and masterful of a cricket and bowler that he was, he is just not fit to be a coach. I'm sure he won't even do this job with seriousness.
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Aug 17, 2012 03:57pm
Here we go again. Now it is Shoaib. Same people who are supporting him will stab him in the back when he does not succeed. Pathetic. Flip-flop, flip-flop!!!!
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Aug 17, 2012 04:42pm
Hahahaaaa Shoaib, NICE JOKE...First Shoaib needs coach himself.
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Aug 17, 2012 10:47am
Shoib is the best bowler available to coach. What mistakes he made in his career should have no bearing on his talent. He was best bowler raw talent that produced and he easily could have surpassed others if not for his mistakes and personal likes and dislikes of his captains. His decline can easily be blamed on Waseem and Inzimam who didn't try to properly coach him and utilize his talent.
Even today if he can bowl four years and get more people out then our whole team. He is still the best bowler around. People were saying the same thing with Waqar and he turned out to be our best coach and he laid a great foundation Dav Whatmore even thoug Waqar had not coached before. He introduced young players and emphasized fitness and made us achieve great success with average talent. So give Shoib a chance what do we have to lose ...a lot more to gain.
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Aug 17, 2012 10:14am
It will be such a terrible idea to bring a Man who had discipline problems. Indeed, he was one of the legend but also has caused so many problems while he was part of the team. Just because he was a fastest bowler in the world, does not mean he will be a great coach. We do not need any one who was trouble maker on the coach position. We need to look from every angle before even considering him for a coach position. I'm sure, we can find someone better than Shoaib.
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Aug 17, 2012 10:20am
During his career he never listen to advice from Imran to cut his runup short to avoid injuries. I don't think a bowler who was unfit most of the time could help guide youngsters in the right direction.
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Aug 17, 2012 10:21am
PCB is looking all over the world and ignoring our home grown talents like Shoib Akhter. If Shoib is not given a chance then we still have the dirty politics in the PCB and it is going to eat us up like a cancer. Mohsin Khan had done a great job and had earned a great respect, but he was also sidelined by PCB. What a shame.
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Aug 17, 2012 10:13am
Too soon after his retirement. Needs a cooling off period. I agree he should concentrate on identifying talent at grass root level and mentor them first.
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Aug 17, 2012 03:38pm
Agree with Soch.. Don't ever give him a chance if you want discipline and unity in the team. He needs coaching, how does he expect to coach others??????
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Aug 17, 2012 03:05pm
Well, I"m not sure how much you follow cricket but if you look at the past Shoaib was a part of dirty politics and still is. I do not think we need that type of "trouble maker" on the coaching position. If we want to succeed and move forward, we must bring a fresh body on the coaching position. Shoaib is not the healthy choice for our cricket team.
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Aug 17, 2012 03:03pm
wasim akram is a person whom PCB shud look upto 111
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Aug 18, 2012 12:01pm
Shoaib is one of the MOST TALENTED bowler Pakistan has ever produced. Give him a hearty chance. He may infuse his techniques into the youngsters.
Surely the other candidate is Wasim Akram.
Both are greats when it comes to bowling and training youngsters.
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Aug 18, 2012 11:59am
I agree. Shoaib should be given a chance to coach young bowlers of our country. He was the BEST bowler when I saw him bowl.
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Aug 18, 2012 11:58am
I agree but in case Akram is not hired then Shoaib is an excellent choice.
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Aug 18, 2012 11:57am
Respect the talent and he will do wonders for Pakistani bowlers. Give him a chance to coach youngsters in bowling like him.
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Aug 17, 2012 12:47pm
Shoaib is very talented man and PCB should give him a chance.
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Aug 17, 2012 01:34pm
I absolutely support Soch786 and agree with every single word of his. Moreover, a player who never heeded to the advice of his coaches thorughout his career, how can he expect other players to follow him. Just one example out of many, he had been advised by almost every coach throughout that he should reduce a bit in his run-up to improve his line and length. He never heeded and ultimately lost his place when he still had almost five years to go. PCB must look for some other coach but not imported one. There is no dearth of Pakistani talent.
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Aug 17, 2012 08:26am
Good Shoaib. Find some talent as well.
PCB must not waste time and give Shoaib a chance immediately.
Shoaib is young, motivated will prove to be an asset.
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Aug 17, 2012 08:28am
PCB must not waste time and give Shoaib a chance.
Shoaib is young as coach and motivated, will prove to be an asset.
Shoaib must also find some talent.
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Aug 17, 2012 09:28am
I think he should be given a chance...
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Aug 17, 2012 09:51am
Shoaib is non serious guy.......................................
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Aug 17, 2012 05:44pm
Shoaib as much as I admire you as fast bowler and legend but you were and still is just a fast bowler and never had trickery in your armory? How would you translate that into coaching? Maybe you could work in a support role.
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Aug 17, 2012 08:55pm
What is interesting in Pakistani Psyche, is that they would not stop at any level but at the top
What I mean is, If you ask opposition do you have any plan for reversal of this present situation, they will say YES. You ask them: why are you not giving it then? They will say: Let us be in Power and then you see. And when they do come, the plan is nothing more than a fluke
What I think is: Yes, Shoaib should coach, but he should prove his worth. In Australia or any other country, You do not become coach because you played at highest level. From john buchanan to Dav Whatmore, they were not great players, they are good coaches. Same was the case with Rehmat Khan, Squash Coach. Shoaib should first coach juniors in his town, produce some results and then we will see.
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Aug 17, 2012 11:31pm
indeed he was such a nice bowler and he will be a nice coach too. PCB should not waste time and give chance to him
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Aug 18, 2012 12:00am
Hahaha,
Nice joke Shoaib. You are probably the worst, worst possible candidate to be a coach. You were an inconsistent, unfit, unreliable fast bowler who was a trouble maker with a diva attitude. There is absolutely nothing you bring to the table. Rather you are an emobdiment of everything a player should not have.
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Aug 18, 2012 12:28am
I dont understand why people cant take shoaib akhtar as an Asset. He is definately a rare breed. He claimed to be a match winner than yes he was. As far as politics is concerned in the team, it was there, it is there and it will be there, it is a part of game. His contribution to Pakistan Cricket was huge. As a FAN of Shoaib Akhtar I could be biased, but look at a respect he possess in International Cricket. At the time Australians retire they mention his name and recalls facing him in their career. Good Luck Shoaib Bhai if you get a chance.
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Aug 18, 2012 01:12am
What qualification as a coach does he have? On top of his discipline issues as a bowler, he always avoided hard work. He was always missing in action and talking like a loose cannon. Did you all forget how disappointing it was him not doing a justice to his talent?
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Aug 18, 2012 01:13am
Shoaib Akhtar as Paki coach??? a circus in making!!! hahhaah
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Aug 18, 2012 01:25am
Akram will be a good bowling coach instead of Shoaib,wasim is world famous bowler and greatest sing bowler of all time
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Aug 18, 2012 02:21am
I agree. He should find a voluntary job in the country and serve the nation. He is human and his a natural issue. He will be good in teaching cricket to high school kids and prepare them for future.
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Aug 18, 2012 03:39am
it is a terrible idea floated by Shoaib himself.. He never been captain of national team and no leadership experience. Best for him to groom bowlers at grass root level. His personality and abilities will inspire youngsters.
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Aug 18, 2012 04:42am
Having a character like Shoiab in the playing side was bad enough
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Aug 18, 2012 04:46am
Indeed Shoiab was very talented, but at the same time he was arrogant on the field and uncoachable in general. What kind of an example do you think he would set for youngsters?
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