Miandad to assist Pakistan batsmen again

Javed Miandad is again expected to work with the Pakistan team on their batting skills, after having earlier helped them prepare for the tour of New Zealand and the World Cup. Shahid Afridi and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt have approached Miandad with a request to help a batting line-up that were largely inconsistent in the World Cup, and he has expressed his willingness to do so.

"We are trying to persuade Miandad to help the batsmen," Afridi said, according to AFP. "We realise there are batting problems so we have told Miandad that the country needs him, so hopefully he will accept that role."

Miandad responded by saying that he was always ready to assist the players whenever the need arose. "I thank PCB chairman and Afridi for calling me and requesting help," Miandad told a private television channel.

Miandad, the PCB director-general, has coached Pakistan three times in the past, each association ending in acrimonious circumstances. He was involved in a war of words last year with Ijaz Butt relating to the salary he drew as director-general. Though he worked with the side before the tour of New Zealand he declined to travel with the team, saying that he had full confidence in the abilities of coach Waqar Younis.

Pakistan's batsmen mostly struggled in the World Cup, failing to chase stiff targets against New Zealand and India, and wobbling in their chase of 177 against Australia before prevailing by four wickets. No Pakistan batsman was among the top-20 run-getters in the World Cup, and their strong bowling attack was largely responsible for their run to the semi-final.

Pakistan are to tour West Indies to play a Twenty20 international, five one-dayers and two Tests later this month.