Senior Pakistan players to look after the 'nets'

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 7. Newly appointed manager Yawar Saeed said on Thursday that there was no need to bring in professional coach for a short period for Pakistan as the team arrived in Sharjah to take part in the triangular cricket series, starting from April 8.

The Pakistan Cricket Board sacked coach Javed Miandad on Tuesday after Pakistan lost one-day series against New Zealand 3-2. Pakistan was also humiliated by an innings and 185 runs in the third and decisive Test which enabled the Black Caps, one of its rivals in Sharjah along with Sri Lanka, to square the three- Test series 1-1.

``If we qualify for the final, it will be overall five one-day matches in Sharjah. For such a short period, I don't think a professional coach is needed,'' Yawar said. ``It will be very difficult for any newcomer (coach) to work on the technique of a player in such a brief time.''

The manager has pinned all his hopes on three senior players to look after the nets at the desert venue. Skipper Waqar Younis will look after the bowling department, while Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul Haq have to share the added responsibility of guiding the youngsters.

``There is no better expert than the skipper himself in the bowling department. Both Saeed and Inzamam have played a lot of cricket in Sahrjah and they know what the conditions will be. So I think these three players are capable of guiding young players whenever the need arises,'' Yawar said.

Search on for coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board has shortlisted possible candidates for the national team's coaching. Former Test players - South African Barry Richards, Australian Greg Chappell and Yorkshireman Geoff Boycott - are among the possible names to be discussed in the next meeting of the Advisory Council. ``These names are under consideration. If we want positive results I think there is no harm in bringing a foreign coach,'' said chairman of the board Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia.

Meanwhile, Waqar Younis termed Pakistan team as not balanced for the triangular series, but hoped that the team would deliver goods in Sharjah. ``The team is not balanced on paper,'' Younis said. ``Obviously there is no alternative for experience but keeping future of Pakistan cricket in mind, youngsters should be given an opportunity,'' he said.

Waqar said that he was not worried about the opposition. ``It's not that New Zealand and Sri Lanka are weaker or stronger. It's how we perform on the given day,'' he said.

The captain praised young fast bowler Muhammad Sami, all-rounder Yasir Arafat and new entrant Kashif Raza, a 19-year- old fast bowler from Sheikhupura. ``They all are young and promising youngsters and I think they are capable of lifting the team.

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