Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Mushtaq want foreign coaches: Ramiz Raja

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already put forward advertisements for the post of a power-hitting batting coach for the national cricket team. The board is also looking for five other coaching positions at the High-Performance Centre in Lahore and has also invited applications for the same.

However, as per the recent turn of events, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan have suggested roping in foreign coaches in the management. PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja has come forward to inform about the same while talking in the ‘New Year Greeting’ video.

He said that Babar, Saqlain, and Rizwan opined to have foreign coaches for the national team. He also stated his opinions on the same and asserted that according to him local coaches should be involved in the away tours.

“I talked to Babar, Saqlain, Rizwan and they opined to integrate foreign coaches in the national team’s dressing room. But my way of thinking is quite open on this as I think that locals should be involved on away tours. You need regular coaches only to create the best dressing room environment,” Ramiz Raja told as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

I wanted to see how they can stand on their feet: Ramiz Raja

The PCB chairman further added that it was the aim to not involve so many technical coaches during the Bangladesh and West Indies series. He reckoned that he wanted to see how the players stand on their own feet with their own thinking.

“I wanted to see how they can stand on their feet with their own thinking. One can’t have any idea of greatness when he can’t grind in the difficult situation without any support,” he added.

Previously the PCB had revealed the criteria for appointing the five coaches. “The High-Performance coach should have a minimum of five years working experience over the past 10 years, including as a life coach for elite sportspersons and/or national or international teams,” the PCB was quoted as saying in a statement. The eligibility for the other four coaches is a minimum of five years working experience over the past 10 years as well as a level three cricket coaching accreditation,” the board added.