Pakistan Cricket Board has laughed out at claims made by former Pakistan cricketers that former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has been appointed as team batting coach for England tour only to make him a scapegoat.
In an interview with Geo Super, PCB CEI Wasim Khan gave examples of many teams that have specialised coaches and said that Younis’ role would ease head coach Misbah-ul-Haq’s workload.
“In England, Trevor Beyliss was coach and he was a batsman but he got Mark Ramparkash and Graham Thorpe as batting coaches with him. Justin Langer got Graeme Hick with him. It’s not that we are finding a scapegoat and that’s why we have got him,” Wasim told Geo Super.
“You see support staff with head coaches because the head coach can’t do everything and you have to find balance so he has clear thinking for team strategy. We are providing top class support staff to Misbah and we are hopeful of good results,”he said.
Furthermore, the PCB CEO expressed his disappointment over receiving criticism on sending to England what is still being considered a sizable support staff given the circumstances.
“We have even seen a 16-member support staff with the team. We aren’t taking any non-essential staff with the team. We are sending 29 players who will be practicing in different batches in a bio-secure environment and they have to be coached by someone. Also, a chief medical officer and anti corruption officer is requirement by the ICC,” he said.
Pakistan are scheduled to fly to England on June 28 to play a series of three Tests and three T20Is against England in August.
The team will be placed in a bio secure environment throughout their stay, that will begin with a quarantine and be followed by training sessions in Worcester and Derby.
“We have been in touch with the ECB. They will be providing a bio-secure environment for us, from hotels to stadium. It is very important for global cricket to have cricket back. West Indies is playing and so we believe that it’s right thing for us to go,” he said.
“This is a very important series for everyone for fans, for media and for cricket. It’s also important for financial situation of game. We don’t know about the future of the World Cup and Asia Cup so we are looking to play as much cricket as possible.”