The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is struggling to find the right coach for their national men's cricket team. The newly appointed chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is looking to create a "hybrid model" coaching staff. This would involve a foreign head coach with Pakistani assistants.
There seems to be some debate within the PCB about the nationality of the head coach. Despite recent disappointments under foreign coaches Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn, particularly in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Naqvi still leans towards a foreign leader. Notably, Arthur did lead Pakistan to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy. The PCB has also experimented with Pakistani coaches in the past, including former players like Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Hafeez. Unfortunately, these appointments haven't yielded the desired results. Hafeez recently even resigned from his position as Director of Cricket after an unsuccessful stint.
PCB fretting over Pakistan's head coach post
PCB search for a new head coach for the national men's team is proving to be a challenge. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi seems to favor a foreign coach, despite some recent disappointments. The PCB reportedly offered a lucrative $2 million annual salary to Shane Watson, who recently coached a team in Pakistan's domestic league, the PSL. However, media leaks apparently scuttled the deal.
Their pursuit of other foreign options hasn't yielded much success either. According to cricketpakistan.com.pk, former England coach Andy Flower and PSL coaches Mike Hesson and Simon Katich all declined the offer. Discussions are ongoing with Justin Langer, but there's no confirmation yet.
Adding to the complexity, the PCB seems hesitant to consider former Pakistani cricketers for the head coach role. Established players like Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq haven't even been approached, suggesting the board might be looking outside the country for leadership.
The PCB's search for a head coach continues, with Matthew Hayden, a former team associate, reportedly being approached for a potential role. However, many promising candidates seem unavailable due to existing commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite these setbacks, the PCB remains optimistic about finalising a new coach by next week.
This lack of a permanent coaching staff is a pressing concern for the Pakistani team. They have a crucial five-match T20I series against New Zealand kicking off on April 18th in Rawalpindi, followed by a four-match T20I series in England. The upcoming matches highlight the urgency for the PCB to appoint a new head coach and supporting staff.
Former Pakistani cricketer Aaqib Javed has criticized the PCB's coach selection process, calling it unprofessional. He pointed out the stark contrast between standard hiring practices and the way the PCB is handling this crucial decision.
“It’s not about jealousy, it’s about mindset. If you look at the past 10-12 years, apart from Mickey Arthur, PCB has not hired any professional coach. In the entire world, when there is an advertisement for coaching, the first requirement is usually a Level 3 plus qualification, followed by 4-5 years of international experience. PCB hires a person first and then the advertisement comes according to that person. So when you don’t correct your advertisement, then anyone can apply, then what are the criteria?,” Aaqib said.
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