Pakistan’s former captain and now director-general cricket in the PCB, Javed Miandad has been given the task of assisting the national team’s batsmen ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Miandad confirmed Tuesday that he will be travelling to Sri Lanka this week to join the Pakistan team but dismissed media reports that he was going there in the capacity of a batting coach. “I am not going there as a batting coach. I was told by the board chairman to go to Sri Lanka and have sessions with the players ahead of the World Cup. I don’t think during such a major tournament you can coach any player or change his batting technique,” Miandad said.
“My main priority is to have pep talks with the players, to raise their spirits and confidence and work out with the batsmen in the nets, advise them on batting issues keeping in mind the requirements of the World Cup and conditions in Sri Lanka,” Miandad added.
Miandad, one of Pakistan’s most respected former batsman, has recently been given a lot of authority and is presently heading a committee that has been entrusted with the task of looking after all cricket related matters in the board, including issues concerning the national team.
The committee recently also held an inquiry into the Pakistan youth team’s below-par performance in the ICC World Cup, which was won by India.
Miandad and other members of the committee questioned the manager and coach of the Pakistan team and several players in the course of their investigations.
Miandad, who played 124 Tests and also served as coach of the national team thrice, said he was confident about the abilities of the players.
“A batting coach can only work properly with the players on their batting issues when the team is not involved in any assignment or tournament. It is not possible to do this during a major event,” Miandad said.
He also made it clear that his going to Sri Lanka would not lead to any problems with head coach, Dav Whatmore.
“There will be no issues because while I am a part of the PCB and going there as a PCB official, Whatmore is the head coach and we both have our domains to work in. I don’t think there will be any misunderstanding,” he said.
Miandad insisted that he was trying to fulfil all duties given to him by the PCB chief with diligence and commitment. “We all want the Pakistan team to do well in the World Cup and if I can play a role in this, I will be the most happiest as Pakistan cricket has given me a lot,” he said.
