Guess what's new? Pakistan looking for coaches again

Islamabad: Pakistan is again looking for new coaches after the national team’s poor performance in the World Twenty20. The Pakistan Cricket Board began advertising positions on Friday after not renewing the two-month contracts of head coach Moin Khan, batting consultant Zaheer Abbas, and fielding coach Shoaib Mohammad. Also, Mohammad Hafeez stepped down from the captaincy after Pakistan didn’t qualify for the semifinals of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh this month. Before then, defending champion Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final. [caption id=“attachment_1486433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Moin Khan, Zakir Khan and Mohammad Hafeez. AP[/caption] In an advertisement on its website, the board invites applications for head coach, batting coach, fielding coach, sports physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, and spin bowling consultant. The PCB said it prefers to have a former test or international player as the head coach and candidates must apply by May 5. Australia’s Dav Whatmore completed his two-year stint as coach in February before the PCB gave short contracts to three former test players for the two events in Bangladesh. Former test fast bowler Mohammad Akram, who was given a two-year contract by former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf, was retained as bowling coach, but the board wants to hire a spin bowling consultant to work closely with the national academy in Lahore. Pakistan has a rich history of producing world-class spinners such as Abdul Qadir, Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Ajmal. However, in the recent past, not many young spinners have come into the spotlight.