Former Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who recently resigned as national selector, has lashed out over double standards for foreign and local coaches in the country's cricket. Misbah stepped down from the selector role following the knee-jerk reaction of sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, bowling coach Umar Gul and dropping seven players on England tour. Misbah feels that local coaches are subject to more scrutiny and widespread criticism whereas foreign coaches tend to get more authority and are not held responsible if the team's performance is not up to the mark.
"It is a fact that local and foreign coaches are treated differently in Pakistan cricket. Local coaches have to face more scrutiny and criticism when compared to foreign coaches," Misbah said on a television show.
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"I don't think there is anything wrong in having foreign coaches but what bothers me is we (fans, critics, media, PCB) tend to have a soft corner for foreign coaches.
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"We tend to give foreign coaches more authority and power and he is held less responsible if the team performs poorly. In contrast, local coaches always facing scrutiny from everyone."
As Babar Azam-led Pakistan lost to England by 194 runs in the Lord’s Test, the squad and the coaching staff underwent a major overhaul. Overnight, the white-ball head coach Mike Hesson along with bowling coach Ashley Noffke were asked to take charge of the Test team as well. The move was widely criticised in international sports media and former cricketers as it points towards lack of stability in Pakistan cricket.
Hesson’s Test ball era begins this week
Even former Pakistan foreign head coaches Mickey Arthur and Jason Gillespie criticised and took a dig at those at the helm of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Under Hesson, Pakistan Test team featuring an influx of young talent who have little first-class cricket experience, will take over a high-on-confidence Joe Root-led England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Notbaly, Pakistan have never won a Test at the venue and it will be an uphill task for them to register their maiden Test win with an inexperienced side.
Misbah bats for patience and long-term approach
Misbah had also lashed out at the trend of negativity against players as soon as their performance goes down. He feels that the need of the hour is now to panic and look for a quick fix. He pointed out that Pakistan's young crop of cricketers are more inclined to play white-ball cricket than red-ball cricket. He wants Pakistan to learn from India saying how they have progressed since the 90s.