Misbah’s defensive approach not suitable for Pakistan head coach role: Ramiz Raja
Raja said that until Pakistan wins on away tours, they will not be respected.
Misbah is in the race to become Pakistan's head coach after the PCB sacked Mickey Arthur following a disastrous show in the World Cup. @ AFP
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes Misbah-ul-Haq's defensive approach will not be apt for the head coach role and therefore he cannot be fit for the post.
Misbah is in the race to become Pakistan's head coach after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to sack Mickey Arthur and the entire coaching staff bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, batting coach Grant Flower and trainer Grant Ludenafter after the team's disastrous show in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
"I do not have anything against Misbah because he took over the captaincy at a difficult time," Raja said on his own YouTube channel.
"He had his own way of approaching the game. He was defensive as he used to lie in wait for the opposition to make a mistake. But now the team needs a new direction. Pakistan has aggression but it needs to unearth the right talent and revamp its systems.
"That can only happen when the mindset is to be proactive not reactive. Unfortunately, Misbah's cricket, from what I've seen, is safe and secure, and has been successful in a certain type of situation.
"Pakistan needs a team for all seasons. Until Pakistan wins on away tours, they will not be respected. There is a major difference in winning at home and away."
Reportedly, the man to take up the head coach role will also simultaneously be handed the chief selector's job, a move which Raja reckons will be "impractical and unsuitable" for Pakistan.
"This idea can work in the western block where the administration is professional not just at the top tier but at every level; and where an individual can do no funny business even if he has absolute power.
"But in Pakistan cricket such an experiment is not without its risk. This is impractical and unsuitable. This has never been done before and no one has even tried it.
"There is no need for such an experiment now. The coach and chief selectors' roles should be kept apart."
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