Miandad to join Pakistan squad as consultant

Javed Miandad, the PCB director general, will join the Pakistan team as a batting consultant for a short period before the start of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, a PCB spokesman confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. "He has been given a special task to join the squad in Sri Lanka to tune-up the batsman," the spokesman said. "This is an additional task for him and not for the entire tournament."

Miandad is expected to leave for Sri Lanka within a week and will spend time with the batsmen, helping them fine-tune their batting ahead of the event. Pakistan is scheduled to play two warm-up matches - against India and England - during this period.

"I have been asked to go to Sri Lanka and have sessions with the players ahead of the event," Miandad was quoted by PTI. "I don't think you can coach any player or change his batting technique during the ongoing series or any tournament. I will not be there for the entire tournament and my main priority is to tune-up the boys."

"My main priority is to have pep talks with the players, to raise their spirits and confidence, and work with the batsmen in the nets, advise them on batting issues, keeping in mind the requirements of the World Cup and conditions in Sri Lanka."

However, Miandad said that he would not be part of the team management that includes head coach Dav Whatmore, fielding coach Julien Fountain and bowling coach Mohammad Akram. "I am not going there as a batting coach," he said.

Miandad has been engaged with the team during the camps but never agreed to travel with the team, instead eyeing a more extensive role in cricket administration. Recently, he was handed the responsibility of supervising Pakistan's domestic and international cricket operations.

Since then, he has been accompanying the national team, the Under-19 team and the Women's team during the conditioning camps, but never accepted a permanent coaching role. His third and last stint as Pakistan coach ended in 2004 after a home series loss to India.