There seems to be more to the appointment by the PCB of Waqar Younis as bowling and fielding coach for the Australian series. It seems that plans are afoot to ease current coach Intikhab Alam out and appoint Waqar as full-time general coach. Reports are already circulating that Waqar’s contract is worth more than current coach Intkihab’s. This would seem a bit strange for someone who will just be assisting with the bowling and fielding for a single series. Have the PCB already give him a full contract with a view to making an announcement later on about him taking over?
Waqar Younis, may soon have more to juggle
Added to this is the fact that Pakistan already have a bowling coach in Aaqib Javed, current assistant to Intikhab. There’s been no mention thus far of Aaqib taking a break for the Australian series so what is it that he will be doing if Waqar is going to be bowling coach?
Stani Army were not the biggest supporters of Intikhab’s appointment as it seemed very much an old-school, backward step after the good work done by the late Bob Woolmer and former coach Geoff Lawson. The recent series in New Zealand must have raised concerns over the coaching attributes of Intikhab as a number of catches were put down by the Pakistan players. Having said that, Waqar was not the best of fielders in his time so having him as fielding coach too, seems a bit bizarre. May be ‘fielding coach’ was put in to his title so that people would not ask why we needed both Waqar and Aaqib as bowling coaches, but I don’t think it has worked.
Intikhab Alam & Aaqib Javed, current coach and assistant
It’s interesting that Waqar’s previous coaching stint with the International side was during Bob Woolmer’s time as coach. This must have worked in Waqar’s favour this time around as he was certain to have picked up valuable skills from someone who was regarded as one of the top coaches in the world.
Young apprentice mimics his master
If Waqar does take over, it will be a very popular choice among both the Pakistan players and supporters. It will go some way in lifting some of the recent doom and gloom from the captaincy fiasco. Should Waqar come in and choose his assistant(s) carefully, we could have what may turn out to be a very successful appointment.
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December 14th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Stani
Ejaz Butt has said that Waqar will be given a long contract only after reviewing his performance in Australia.
I hope it is a longer one as I am not too impressed by Intikhab Alam, Aaqib has done a decent job, I have no complains about our bowlers, it would be great if both Waqar and Aaqib can work together.
Feilding remains the biggest concern and it remains un addressed even with Waqar’s appointment I don’t think Waqar will be able to improve anything in this area.
As regards batting if Mohammad Yousaf can himself control the nets and guide younger players we don’t need a batting coach then for the national team. But then again there is a rumour Yousaf is trying to get Inzimam as a batting coach.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Wasim
If Waqar does take over, he could still retain Aaqib Javed although, even though he is a good coach, he will not really be needed. They should give him his old youth job back. This will then leave a space for a specialist fielding or batting coach.
You make a good point about Yousuf guiding the batsmen. I think, had he not been captain as well then may be this would have been a possibility rather than employing a separate batting coach. His captaincy role will make this difficult but I guess we wont be surprised if Inzamam is brought in as batting coach. After all, Yousuf did go to Inzamam for advice before accepting the captaincy.
In regards to the fielding, I think we need to go abroad for a good coach because it’s getting serious. It is costing us matches, we could have wrapped the New Zealand Test series up 3-0 but for our fielding.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:17 am
Stani but do you think Inzi will be a good option.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:18 am
And btw don’t forget YK has also taken up coaching.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
hmm another episode of soap opera, what the hell why isn’t anything get done straightforward in this little part of world called Pakistan. PCB is so dumb it creating problems for its own. You want to sack Intikhab do it when you feel right and appoint new one say Waqar. But imagine now in Australia Intikhab and Aqib both will be worried of Waqar taking over their jobs and this creates tussle in team management and coaching staff not to mention already overwhelming tussles in team.
Damn its simply non-sense.
December 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Now about Coaching:
I agree, Waqar will be a better choice then Intikhab given his energy and sense of cricket also witnessing his analysis skills during commentary. He will be very good at his specialized field bowling and bit at fielding but not sure about batting which is most needed right now. But if they are going to do it any way please be persistent with your decisions we can’t afford any change before WC 2011 after this.
So ideally if there have to be some assistant it should ideally be a batting coach what to do with two bowling coaches after all.
Yousuf could help batsmen in nets specially young but I am not sure if he can effectively play a coach role like Dan. Because its Pakistan team not NZ lolz as many seniors like Malik, Younis, Misbah, Kamran may not take him seriously as there is already a battle for power as well as position in team. Sometime Yousuf himself is not sure of his place specially in ODIs and T20s. Given our culture we usually don’t accept dictations from someone among us with same ranks or little above except some juniors.
Inzi could be good batting coach option but he may only accept full coaching position not only batting or some assistant job and bringing him back will again starts the old battle between seniors.
Right for fielding we can go for an abroad option but we need to develop culture and mentality to put their best in the ground regardless of match situation, their personal role or position and their future place in team. Its a hard work needed for a long time.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Reverse
I know for a fact that Malik and Misbah always go to Yousaf whenever they are in a batting slump, this is a fact that Misbah has acknowledged in several interviews.
I think we have developed a trust deficit with the players and now we think that they never can do a thing right the team plays international cricket and does reasonably well their is some work going on behind the scenes, we should not dismiss everything without having any knowledge of facts pointing otherwise.
As regards Waqar’s appointment, I think PCB made a right decision, Fast bowlers will hold the key in Australia, if Waqar can brush up the skills of Aamer and improve his wicket taking ability and can help improve a struggling Gul it will be of great help and will improve Pakistan’s chances to beat Australia or at least put up a good fight.
In the short run our batting cannot improve. So the decision to send Waqar is not bad, now as regards the controversy it is again the invention of our media. The sensible thing should be that we should not react to it unless something comes out in black and white.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Wasim
I don’t think Inzamam would be a suitable option for a batting coach and I doubt he take it up unless it was a minimal role. Don’t get me wrong, I love the big bear but he was more of a lead by example guy than a hands on coaching kind of guy. Plus, he’ll probably get frustrated at how rubbish our batsmen are and quit! I haven’t read anything about Younis, where did you see it?
Reverse
The PCB were wrong to offer Intikhab two years. They should have done the same thing they did with the captaincy and should have given Intikhab a rolling contract. But of course, when did the PCB ever think ahead?
I agree we need a batting coach if Waqar does come in to the helm. I would go abroad for both batting and fielding coaches.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Stani It’s all over in the Pak media.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Stani
Every employment contract has a termination clause, if Intikhab is getting terminated then I’m sure PCB will do it according to the terms and conditions of his contract.
I don’t think that Intikhab enjoys the kind of support that a lot of people will back him if makes any hue and cry. Batting and feilding has seriously gone from bad to worst under his coaching. Whenever there have been major rifts and revolts in the team he has been there as a manager or coach, also during every match fixing controversy he has been there.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Wasim
I didn’t like him from the outset. The piece you showed me regarding the match fixing investigation just strengthened my dislike of him. I just don’t see how he would be able to coach us in anything useful.
Regarding his contract, it seems he is going to come out fighting as he has been quoted as saying that he will be coach for the foreseeable future. Yes, we should pay him off if we have to as he hasn’t got long left on his contract anyway.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Stani
I don’t think PCB will have to buy out his contract, he still has a year to go there must be an early termination clause in his contract I will be surprised if there isn’t any.
I don’t want to speculate on this matter as it will create an unnecessary controversy I am sure PCb must have taken him and Aaqib in confidence before appointing Waqar as bowling coach.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Do see this amazing and heart warming letter at A Cricketer’s Tribulations
December 16th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Wasim
I would be surprised if he had agreed to an early termination clause. The way he was talking it did seem as though he had something to fight with. Although it is speculation at the moment, our fielding in New Zealand is a strong case for some swift action.
Posh
Yes, heart warming and I’m sure something many can relate to.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Stani, if there is one thread u wanted to read this year over at mine it is now.
Good luck Waqar Younis. At least this role gets him off the commentary which is painful for the eardrum. But if there is ever a coach Pak should have appointed is should be Moin Khan.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Maz
Moin Khan!? Excellent wicket keeper but I wouldn’t trust the guy as far as I can throw him. He beat his wife up, not a good man in my books.