Salman Butt has raised questions over Misbah-ul-Haq’s role as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team. According to the former Pakistan skipper, every coach must specialize in something, but Misbah seemingly fits in no particular domain.
While Misbah is the head coach of the team, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also appointed Younis Khan as the batting coach. Butt further questioned PCB’s decision to hire a separate batting coach when Misbah himself was such a fine batsman during his playing days.
“Misbah-ul-Haq is a very fine man, and he is laid-back, just like his batting was. But he is now the coach of the team. He came into the job with the reputation of a brilliant captain and a player.
“Keeping his specialisation (batting) in mind, he should have brought in people for other departments, like a bowling coach or a fielding coach, and he should have executed things,” Butt said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Now, there are so many coaches in the team, I wonder what Misbah-ul-Haq is doing with the players. We have a separate batting coach in Younis Khan; Waqar Younis looks after the bowling.
“Even for spin bowling, there is Mushtaq Ahmed, and then we have a fielding coach as well. Further, Babar Azam says that he takes all captaincy and team decisions. So then what is left behind?” Salman further questioned.
The 36-year-old expressed his disappointment over Misbah’s role as a coach. When informed that having multiple coaches has become a trend among the international teams, Butt countered:
“Does a team, whose head coach has been one of the best batsmen in international cricket during his playing days, require a separate batting coach? If that is the case, what is the head coach for, to write chart paper? That is too much leverage for a head coach. Is his role just to tell people what to do? That is already their job titles,” he stated.
Salman Butt said while Misbah-ul-Haq is a Pakistan legend, it is important for the latter to have a specific role in the team. Providing the example of former Pakistan coach, the late Bob Woolmer, he added:
“Bob Woolmer was a batsman, so at that time, we did not have a batting coach; same when Javed Miandad was the head coach. I can understand if you hire people for specific positions, like an opening consultant for struggling openers.
“Your job description must define who you are. I really don’t know what head coaches do differently today. At least we know Misbah-ul-Haq was a fine batsman. Who was Mickey Arthur? Just an average coach,” he concluded.