Miandad likely to become Pakistan batting coach again

Fri, Nov 26 10 09:26 PM

Karachi, Nov 26 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad may soon become the batting coach of the national cricket team, sources said today. Sources in the PCB said Chairman Ijaz Butt has taken a decision in this regard on the direction of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also patron of the Board. "They (Butt and Miandad) apparently had a meeting in China where both had gone for different reasons last week. Miandad discussed cricket affairs with the PCB chief including the recent performance of the team," the source said. The source said that Miandad, who himself had expressed interest in coaching, will start working with the players at the national training camp in Lahore from December 7 for the New Zealand tour. "If need arises Miandad might even travel with the team to New Zealand," he added. Although both the stalwarts have not seen eye to eye while working together in the board but the source said they were told by the President to work together for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. "Butt has been told to make proper utilization of Miandad''s experience by giving him more responsibilities," the source said. Miandad had also worked for a short stint as batting consultant with the Pakistani players last year before the Champions Trophy but was not given a permanent role in the team by the PCB chief. The former captain has been a coach of the national team on three separate terms. Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam, however, when contacted said he had no idea about Miandad helping out as batting coach. "To be honest I don''t know anything about this but perhaps the Chairman may have something in his mind," he said. Many former players and critics have called for the appointment a fulltime batting coach with the national team given the tendency of the Pakistani batsmen to self-destruct in recent series. Wasim Bari a senior official of the board had also confirmed that the PCB was negotiating with some foreigners for this position but Butt shot down the idea at a press conference.

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