Pakistan team will only improve under a foreign coach: Yousuf

Former Pakistan captain, Muhammad Yousuf has advised the appointment of only foreign coaches and support staff for the national team in order to improve its performances in the future.

“I tell you the performances of the players and team will only improve under a foreign coach and support staff,” Yousuf said today.

His advice came after Pakistan lost to England in the limited over series in UAE and slipped down the ICC ODI and T20 rankings.

It has also slipped to fourth in the Test rankings.

“If the present scenario continues Pakistan will go further down because next year you have to go to England and Australia for full series,” Yousuf said.

But at same time the former batting stalwart made it clear that foreign coaches like Dav Whatmore or Geoff Lawson who were afraid to take tough decisions and pandered to local players and officials to save their jobs should not be entertained again.

“Such coaches are not required you need an established coach someone like the late Bob Woolmer who did a lot to improve our overall cricket mindset and team.”

Yousuf said he didn’t see things improving under present head coach Waqar Younis.

“No, I don’t think much will change. He has massive ego problems and personal likes and dislikes and he works on an agenda where he doesn’t want senior players in his side.

“I don’t think he can change himself so it is for the PCB to decide what they want to do. We all have a lot of respect and admiration for Waqar as a player but as a coach he has failed not once but twice. He has not learnt from his mistakes in his previous tenure,” Yousuf said.

The former captain said it had become a joke the way rapid changes were made in the Pakistan limited over sides in recent times.

“You don’t debut 12 to 13 players in all three formats in just eight months despite having senior players who just need to be given more confidence and backing by the team management and selectors.

“I don’t understand what future Waqar talks about when he is wasting and discouraging available talent.