Pakistan on Tuesday launched its hunt for a new head coach for the national cricket team even as outgoing coach Waqar Younis has warned that the performance of the side is unlikely to improve until wholesome changes were made in the way the game is being run in the country.
The Pakistan Ccricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday posted an advertisement on its official website inviting applications from interested candidates for the elite coaching position by April 25.
But if the PCB follows its own eligibility rules for appointing a new coach it virtually rules out many candidates for the job.
“The interested candidates must have atleast five years of working experience in a similar role with elite cricketers or national and international teams,” the advertisement reads.
“Test/international cricketers would be preferred, however first class cricketers having more than 10 years experience may also apply,” it said.
The PCB also wants candidates to have strong computer skills and experience of successfully coaching athletes/cricketers to the required international standards.
Outgoing coach Waqar, who resigned on Monday after the national team’s dismal show in the Asia Cup and ICC World T20, however, insisted that the board must first set things right in its own system.
“No coach will be successful until present system prevails. There is a need to have more clarity on cricket awareness, selection issues, authority of coach and definite improvement in the domestic structure,” Waqar said.
Waqar said that his impression after working for two years as head coach was that they were problems in the board because of the presence of two bigwigs, Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi.
Although several former Pakistani players are in the run for the coaching post namely Mudassar Nazar, Aaqib Javed, Mohsin Khan but Waqar said whoever the board appoints must be given full authority and his recommendations and advice taken seriously.
Mohsin has confirmed that he was offered the position of chief selector by the board but has made it clear that he is interested in becoming chief coach and not a selector.
“I have one of the most successful records as coach so why can’t they give me this responsibility? I am confident I can turn things around for the team,” he said.
Mohsin was the chief coach of Pakistan in 2011-2012 before he was replaced by Australian Dav Whatmore.