Pakistan team needs mentor more than a coach | Getty Images
Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Mohammad has lashed out at the current coaching standards, saying cricket needs mentors, not coaches who are “failures as players.”
His comments came after Pakistan’s humiliating 5-0 whitewash at the adopted home UAE at the hand of Australia recently following their South Africa drubbing just two months before the World Cup 2019.
Mohammad also slammed national Head coach Mickey Arthur, saying just a coaching degree doesn’t guarantee success. Former opener further said that multiple software programs or a coaching degree in a cricket match can't replace the experience, vision and psychological understanding of the game that has a professional top player -that is something nowadays player needs.
On Tuesday, 2nd April, Shoaib told GTV news, “If you look at the number of international coaches nowadays and those in the past, you will notice majority of them were failures or average in their playing days. There are exceptions, but the majority are failures as players.”
He continued, “I think it is wrong to assume that if you have a coaching degree at any level you can be a good and successful coach. If a person has played top-level cricket successfully, he has a far better chance at succeeding at management and coaching.”
Mohammad further explained, “No number of written words, software programs or simulations of a particular situation in a cricket match can replace the experience, vision and psychological understanding a professional top player has. He is far more likely to succeed in helping groom and guide a player or help a player who is facing motivational or technical problems. A degree in coaching is helpful but only if you have played cricket at the highest level.”
On the other hand, Mohammad gives the example of Sunil Gavaskar and Javed Miandad, who have succeeded without the help of professional coaches.
Shoaib added, “How did players like Hanif Muhammad, Sunil Gavaskar or Javed Miandad pile up records without coaches? They didn’t have coaches, but they had mentors and that is what is needed in cricket.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan has won only 15 ODIs since their Champions Trophy success in June 2017 and he questioned the ability of national coaches who failed to help the side to overcome their struggle.
Shoaib signed off by saying, “Since the Champions Trophy it has been downhill in Test cricket and ODIs, so is the Australia series drubbing a surprise? In the last three years what is unfortunate is these coaches they have not been able to help even one batsman. Our players have not been able to build up their ability to play long innings, develop game sense, show patience when required or have proper stroke selection or finish matches. This was very visible in the series against Australia.”
(With Geo TV Inputs)
