Pakistan's head coach and chief selector, Misbah Ul Haq, welcomed his former teammate and country's only 10,000 Test runs holder, Younus Khan, as the side's batting coach for the difficult tour of England in August-September.
Younus, who boasts of an impressive record in those conditions, Misbah is hoping, will be of great help to his wards as they prepare to face the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer in a three-match Test series. The tour also includes three T20Is.
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"I have played a lot with Younus and the good thing is many players have played alongside him and they understand each other. Most of us understand his mentality, game plan, work ethics and planning," Misbah told reporters.
"Younus will be a big help for us and we know he will give 100 percent. He will be a big help to me and we can share workload during our camp in England and it will be easier for me to handle 29 players."
Apart from Younus, Misbah himself and bowling coach Waqar Younis, players will get the chance to also pick the brains of former wrist-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who has been roped in for the tour as well.
The Test series is set to be the second played in England this summer after COVID-19 hiatus following West Indies' three-Test trip in July.
Pakistan's players will travel early to first adhere to the quarantine rules and then take part in the six-game international tour in a bio-secure bubble, with the highest safety protocols followed. That, Misbah realises, will take time adjusting.
"These are unusual circumstances. There will be different protocols in place for the tour because of the existing world situation. It is going to be difficult for the players and officials but we have to adapt accordingly," he said.
"I and Dr Sohail Saleem have had interactions with the players on the tour and everyone understands the situation. We have prepared them for every situation like a player testing positive or showing mild symptoms," Misbah added. "Having to train in isolation for four weeks. Staying in a 14-day quarantine, playing before empty stadiums and adapting to the on-field SOPs."
"It is not an easy situation for us as we haven't played cricket for three months but I am counting on this factor of the players having missed playing cricket and being hungry to get back on the field. We have a good squad to pick from and we can do well in English conditions."
Ideally, Pakistan would've liked to announce different Test and T20I squads, but given the circumstances and need for quarantine, selectors and the management found it fit to travel with a combine touring party.
"We have done our best and I know 29 is a lot of players but we have tried to ensure we have both specialists for red and white ball formats because we go and come back together," Misbah concluded.
(Inputs from PTI)
