Pakistan have roped in former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq
as batting consultant, and also appointed a psychologist, to prepare
for the India tour. Inzamam work with the batsmen on a series-by-series
basis as the PCB has, for now, shelved the idea appointing a full-time
batting coach.
"We have engaged the services of Inzamam ahead of the India tour,"
Ashraf told reporters in Muridke, a town near Lahore. "He won't travel
to India with the team but will help the batsmen in the camp as batting
consultant. He will part of the touring unit that goes next year to
South Africa.
"Psychologist Maqbool Babri has also been signed up to help motivate the players for the challenging [India] tour."
The PCB had originally planned to recruit a specialist coaching panel
with separate people taking charge of batting, bowling and fielding, but
then appointed head coach Dav Whatmore with the additional
responsibilities of batting coach.
Then, after a detailed review of Pakistan's performance at the World
Twenty20, where the team reached the semi-final only to lose to Sri
Lanka by 16 runs while chasing a target of 140, the idea of a separate full-time batting coach once again took root. However, the PCB got a lukewarm response and now they've settled on a series-by-series consultant.
In response to the PCB advert, several former Pakistan Test batsmen, including Zaheer Abbas and Saleem Malik,
had applied for the role but the PCB was looking to hire a qualified
coach - candidates with at least Level 3 coaching accreditation and at
least five years' experience working with top cricketers were
requirements.
India and Pakistan will revive their cricketing ties after five years
with a series of two Twenty20s and three one-day internationals,
starting on December 25 in Bangalore. The two Pakistan squads have
assembled at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, for a week-long
training camp before flying to India on December 22.
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