PCB must hire a batsman head coach after Whatmore: Aamir Sohail

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Captain Amir Sohail feels Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should hire a batsman head coach for the national team after Dav Whatmore whose contract expires in February next year.

The PCB will not renew Whatmore s contract as Whatmore had earlier informed the board that he would not be seeking an extension in the job due to personal and family reasons.

His last assignment with Pakistan will be the upcoming Sri Lanka series in the UAE to be held this month. According to media reports it has been learnt that discussions had been held with former coach Waqar Younis is a top contender to replace Whatmore as head coach.

Waqar who is settled in Australia has shown interest in the coaching assignment but has also kept forth some strong conditions to sign a fresh contract. Waqar has also asked for more authority and a pay package equivalent to what the board is paying Whatmore. Waqar who was head coach of the national team in 2010 and 2011 ended his contract prematurely in September 2012 on personal and health grounds.

There are also talks about handing Younis Khan the additional responsibility of being the team’s batting coach besides playing in the Test matches.

Talking to APP, Aamir Sohail said Pakistan team already has a bowling coach Muhammad Akram and to hire another bowler head coach like Waqar Younis won’t be suitable for the team. The national team needs a batting head coach a person who should be well known for his batting and can make the team deliver with the bat, he said.

Aamir said batting is always been a weakness of the national team and it is the need of the hour to hire a batting head coach. Consistency in team’s batting is always lacking he said.

While parsing the youngsters for their ODI series triumph against South Africa Aamir said there was always a blend of youth and experience that makes a team successful. (APP)