Javed Miandad questions role of coaches in international cricket

Tags: Javed Miandad, Pakistan,

Javed Miandad has been Pakistan coach for several years © Getty Images

Karachi: Dec 24, 2011

Pakistan's former captain Javed Miandad does not believe there is any role for a coach in cricket but has insisted that a "planner" is needed to be associated with teams.

"I don't think there is a role for a coach in cricket but you can say a team needs a planner. Someone who can plan out strategies for each match and provide feedback to the players and motivate them," Miandad told reporters.

Miandad, who himself remained coach of the national team thrice, said he didn't believe that specialist coaches for every department of the game was the solution.

"I believe that in cricket it is eventually up to the player who he performs or delivers. No matter how much you coach or advice a player but once he is out there in the middle it is entirely up to him how he responds and performs," he said.

Miandad said if players required any coaching after graduating into the Pakistan team, they didn't deserve to be playing international cricket at all.

"At this level what can you coach a player. But yes if you have a planner he can define a clear role for players and for every match," he said.

Miandad, who played 124 Tests for Pakistan over a span of nearly 21 years, said cricket was not like football or hockey.

"There is a role for a coach in these sports because he has total authority and say in selection of teams. But in cricket the final authority at the end of the day lies with the captain and he has to extract the best out of his players."