Islamabad: Pakistan are again looking for new coaches after the national team’s poor performance in the World Twenty20.
The Pakistan Cricket Board began advertising positions on Friday after not renewing the two-month contracts of head coach Moin Khan, batting consultant Zaheer Abbas, and fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad.
Also, Mohammad Hafeez stepped down from the captaincy after Pakistan didn’t qualify for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh this month. Before then, defending champion Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final.
In an advertisement on its website, the board invites applications for head coach, batting coach, fielding coach, sports physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, and spin bowling consultant.
The PCB said it prefers to have a former test or international player as the head coach and candidates must apply by May 5.
Australia’s Dav Whatmore completed his two-year stint as coach in February before the PCB gave short contracts to three former test players for the two events in Bangladesh.
Former test fast bowler Mohammad Akram, who was given a two-year contract by former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf, was retained as bowling coach, but the board wants to hire a spin bowling consultant to work closely with the national academy in Lahore.
Pakistan has a rich history of producing world-class spinners such as Abdul Qadir, Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Ajmal. However, in the recent past, not many young spinners have come into the spotlight.
Meanwhile, star Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been given clearance by his home board to play a shortened stint with Worcestershire in the English season.
The 36-year-old’s departure was held up after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) discussed the matter following confirmation of Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka in July-August.
“We have given NOC (no-objection certificate) to Ajmal but want him to return in mid-July so that he can be part of team’s tour to Sri Lanka,” PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad told AFP late Thursday.
Pakistan will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka on a tour which was only finalised last week on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai.
Ajmal said he would fly early next week and will be available for Worcestershire’s home match against Derbyshire on April 27.
“I am quite used to playing in the English season, but duty-bound to return for national duty once the PCB wants me,” he told AFP.
Regarded as one of the best spinners of modern times, Ajmal has so far played 33 Tests, 110 one-day internationals and 63 Twenty20 matches.
He took 24 wickets in helping Pakistan rout then-world Test number one England 3-0 in their series in the United Arab Emirates in 2012.
