LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper/batsman Moin Khan has advised the current trio of national team wicket-keepers to hone their skills further to be more competitive in world cricket.

Moin, while speaking to Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan and Rohail Nazir through a video link on Saturday, said that a strong temperament is essential for a good wicketkeeper who is also responsible for lifting the morale of the team during the pressure situations.

Moin, who was known to regularly boost the bowlers’ morale from behind the stumps during his playing days, added: “A wicket-keeper needs to energise the players with constant pep talk and through light conversation with fielders and bowlers when the going gets tough and bowlers come under pressure due to opposing batsmen’s onslaught.”

Moin also stressed the importance of good understanding between a bowler and a wicket-keeper: “In my playing days I used to pick up eye signals from Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi and Saqlain which helped a lot to trap a batsman.”

Talking about his famous rivalry with Rashid Latif in the 1990s, Moin stated that rather than getting tense about the situation, he took the challenge head-on and only his hard work and perseverance helped him to compete with Rashid who was a very talented and accomplished wicket-keeper.

“My tireless work and focus helped me achieve the landmark of most international caps as a wicketkeeper from Pakistan,” he said.

Referring to maintaining his fitness during his playing days, Moin said: “I used to play squash and football to keep physically fit and mentally focussed.

In his 14-year long international career, Moin appeared in 69 Tests scoring 2741 runs and completing 148 dismissals behind the stumps. In 219 ODIs he scored 3266 runs and tallied 287 dismissals.

Moin was the last speaker who exchanged thoughts and shared his experiences with the current Pakistan team players.

Before him Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Rahid Latif, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan also spoke to the current players in what has been a good initiative by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2020