Coach Waqar has a 'better plan' for Pakistan

News

Cricket365
July 2, 2014

New Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has this week begun his second stint in the job, starting with a training camp in Lahore, and he says he will inject passion and competitive aggression into the side.

Younis coached Pakistan in 2010/11 before a reported fall-out with some senior players, but he says that this time he has some new plans to forge a stronger, more competitive side. Their first assignment will be in August, against Sri Lanka.

Waqar said: "I have come with a positive frame of mind, there's no doubt about it. I have come with a better plan, I think the team could get better with changes and we can match any team in international cricket.

"I was here two years ago and you people saw there was improvement in the team. I have come with a lot of passion and the mindset will be the same, we will play positive cricket and will play to win, there's no defence involved in it.

"Hopefully the boys will understand what I am trying to say and I hope this passion will be there in them as well. I believe the youngsters are very talented, they will understand the spirit."

Aside from the Sri Lanka series, Pakistan, like all other nations, are looking towards the World Cup in February. Waqar felt he had arrived just in time, and was looking forward to building up to the tournament over the year.

The coach continued: "It's the right time, when I came last time our team was in a similar situation, there are lots of youngsters and I am excited to meet them and work with them.

"Ten months (sic. eight) time is a long time, we are getting cricket against Australia and New Zealand and then we have 15 days before the World Cup, there's no reason we can't prepare.

"Obviously there are short-term goals at the moment as we have plenty of cricket this year and we won't be neglecting them."

As for the skipper, a major talking point in Pakistan as Misbah-ul-Haq comes under fire often, Waqar said he would like to identify a young player who could lead the side in all formats, and have a long-term leader.

He added: "Captain remains under fire all the time, if you look at Pakistan cricket it's been the same trend. I know a sword keeps hanging on the captain and it should be like that, the captain has to be on his toes.

"But instead of series-to-series we have to think about a long-term captain, you have to think about youngsters for Test, one-day and Twenty20 because if you look there are two-three players who are on the wrong side of 30."