Sohail questions Pak coaches'' credentials

Sat, Aug 28 10 09:53 PM

Karachi, Aug 28 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail today questioned the credentials of the national team coaches and claimed that they don''t have much knowledge about the jobs they are doing. The outspoken former cricketer, who has also served as the chief selector, said he was appalled at the way Pakistan allowed England to take control of the fourth Test at Lords. "Where is the coaching and support staff? At times it seems they don''t know anything at all about their jobs. In fact, I don''t think they know about their job descriptions," Sohail said. Pakistan allowed England to recover from a precarious 50 for five to 347 for seven at stumps on the second day with some clear tactical blunders being noticed on the field by the captain and other players. Sohail feels that in modern day cricket the role of the support staff specially the coaches was paramount and play a big part in any team''s success or defeat. "I don''t know what is happening in the team, where is the support staff? What were they doing when so many blunders were being made on the second day of the Test? Why didn''t they guide the captain and bowlers? "Wahab Riaz has a problem with his bowling arm wrist that he does not hold it in one place and sprays the ball all over the place. It is the job of the coaches to have spoken to him after every session and guide him," Sohail said. "But why has this problem not been sorted out as yet? What are the support staff doing? Saeed Ajmal kept on bowling round the wicket to Stuart Broad, Muhammad Asif was made to bowl from just one end, who is responsible for this?" he asked. Sohail said that in Pakistan cricket there was a habit for pre-mature celebrations and to create a star out of a young player prematurely. "Success has many fathers but defeat none. I have respect for Waqar Younis and Ijaz Ahmed as cricketers as I have played with them. But I have serious doubts about their coaching credentials," Sohail said. Sohail pointed out that the coaching staff was supposed to be there for the players in trying circumstances. "The true role of the support staff and coaches comes in when the chips are down and unfortunately in this series when the team has lost direction the coaches have failed to guide them in the right direction," he said.

Source: Published>