Coaching Pakistan will make Woodhill ‘famous’: Zaheer

Published May 7, 2013
“I had not heard his name and I believe it won't make a good impact on the players.” -File photo
“I had not heard his name and I believe it won't make a good impact on the players.” -File photo

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas on Tuesday said that no one in the cricket world knows of Pakistan’s newly-appointed batting coach Trent Woodhill but the former New Zealand cricket team assistant will get fame for being involved with the national side.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Woodhill to improve the team's batting performance in the ICC Champions Trophy to be played in England next month.

Woodhill was involved with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia and is part of the Delhi Daredevils' support staff in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Talking to APP, Zaheer said Woodhill had been an anonymous figure for him until the PCB appointed the Australian.

“I had not heard his name and I believe it won't make a good impact on the players,” he said.

Zaheer added that an international team like Pakistan needs a big name as their batting coach and that the PCB had appointed Woodhill to fulfill a formality. .

He was also critical of the fact that the Australian was hired just three weeks prior to the Champions Trophy.

“The way Pakistan's batting flopped 3-0 during the Test series against South Africa in February this year, I feel the PCB should have hired an expert coach for the job,” the former captain said.

Talking about the team's chances in the Champions Trophy, Zaheer who has also worked as the manager of the national team, said he has high hopes for the team to do well in the Trophy.

“I believe captain Misbah-ul-haq and vice-captain Muhammad Hafeez will chalk out a good strategy before moving in the field. It is a good opportunity for the youngsters to prove their mettle in the Trophy.”

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