IN a much anticipated development after Greenshirts dismal
performance in the recently concluded World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided Wednesday to go for a massive revamp in the coaching staff by refusing to grant extension to the existing lot that included head coach Mickey Arthur, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, batting coach Grant Flower and Trainer Grant Luden.
During the tenure of outgoing coaches, the green shirts witnessed many lows than ups. However, one should not forget that it was under their supervision that our team lifted the ICC Champions Trophy a few years ago and also became number one team in the test cricket. Therefore, nobody can cast doubt on their professionalism and sincerity to the cause. The earnestness and seriousness of head coach Mickey Arthur towards the team can also be gauged from his comments that he made after the PCB decision in which he not only expressed his disappointment over non renewal of his contract but also stated that he wholeheartedly tried to lift Pakistan cricket. Having all the respect for him, we understand that sometimes changes become inevitable to achieve new milestones and incumbent PCB Chairman Ehsani Mani has also gone with the cricket committee’s recommendations on the same note that new leadership and a fresh approach is need of the hour to take forward the cricket in Pakistan. Now the next gigantic task for the PCB is to hire the new lot of coaching. We have no doubt in saying that under Ehsan Mani the best people will be hired for this purpose. However, in our view, new head, batting and bowling coaches should be from Pakistan – the country which has produced many greats in all these fields as they can better communicate with the players and understand their problems as compared to the foreign coaches. There is also need to bring drastic changes in the national cricket team with the seniors and juniors who failed to perform in the World Cup should be shown the doors. Old and tested guns should not be tried again. With the launch of ICC Test Championship which has once again increased the relevance and context of the bilateral test series, our Board now needs to prepare three separate teams for all the three formats and the best available lot should be made part of them purely on merit without any other considerations.
