National coach has to be good in man-management: Mushtaq

Pakistan's former leg-spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed has advised the PCB to look for a national coach who is well versed in man-management skills while appointing Waqar Younis's replacement.

Mushtaq Ahmed has advised the PCB to look for a national coach who is well versed in man-management skills while appointing Waqar Younis's replacement. © AFP

Mushtaq, 41, who himself remained assistant coach of the national team in 2006 and 2007 and presently working with the England side as its spin bowling consultant, said a coach has to have good man-management skills to be successful with the Pakistan team.

He also dismissed concerns that the board might find it difficult to find an able replacement for Younis who will not be available after the Zimbabwe tour due to personal and health reasons.

The former spinner said that selection of a coach was not a complex procedure.

"Finding a new coach is no rocket science," Mushtaq told the Express Tribune newspaper on Sunday.

"What a player requires at the top level is a strategy and advice from the coach and nothing else. If you are expecting someone who could work on a player's skills - especially at that level - then that is waste of time. Someone playing international cricket is supposed to be skilful and only needs the right guidance and exposure to enhance and implement it," he said.

The Pakistan cricket community is split over whether the board should appoint a foreign coach or go for a local one, with some former players expressing concern that a foreign coach might face communication problems with the players.

But Mushtaq, who took 185 Test and 161 one-day wickets, said the felt the best formula to success was to find a coach who can manage the players well.

"I see the debate between a foreign and local coach has blown out of proportion," Mushtaq said.

"I'm sure the PCB has something in mind but with a foreign coach, there will be a communication problem. However, he can always have assistants to overcome that issue which, after all, is a minor one."

Mushtaq, too, spoke of the problems plaguing Pakistan cricket, especially the divide frequently seen in the dressing room.

"Bring someone who understands the environment and manages things with authority. There are things we all know happen and are wrong with the team so whoever is brought in must be aware of that and should hopefully sort that out."