No need for specialist coaches for foreign tours: Nazir - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shahid Nazir has backed Test captain Mohammad Yousuf's recent statement that a fielding coach would not be beneficial for the Pakistan team, saying that he too is not in favour of specialist coaches on overseas tours. "My personal opinion is that batting and bowling coaches are not exactly needed. In the off season (when the team comes home or when there is a gap of a week or two), yes the players should workout with batting and bowling coaches," PakPassion.net quoted Nazir, as saying. "On tours though, I don't think so many people are needed. A coach is already travelling with the team. I don't think there's an additional need of a batting coach or a bowling coach," stated Nazir. Nazir is currently part of the Habib Bank squad taking part in the Pentangular Cup and has played for Pakistan on 32 occasions. He feels that international players should make full use of the academies and the coaches working there rather than relying so heavily on specialist coaches. "There's already an academy in place, and Aqib Javed is a very good bowling coach working on the bowlers there," Nazir added. Pakistan currently has a number of coaches overseeing team affairs in Australia . Intikhab Alam is the head coach, while former Pakistan fast bowling legend Waqar Younis is bowling/fielding coach for the tour of Australia , although there is still much confusion as to whether Waqar will be appointed on a longterm basis. As well as Intikhab and Waqar, Aaqib Javed is also assisting with coaching duties on the tough tour of Australia.