Legendary former Pakistan captain and coach Javed Miandad marked
his 50th birthday today by saying that he fears for the future of the national
side.
But the master batsman said that despite his experience he
had not applied for a fourth stint as coach after the death of Bob Woolmer
at the World Cup in March.
"What I have been saying for the last three years was
not heeded and Pakistan cricket has come to a stage where we have no replacements
for players and domestic cricket is in a shambles," Miandad said.
"I predicted Pakistan would fare badly in the World
Cup and it came about. Now we need proper planning for cricket otherwise
we won't be able to solve the slump." Pakistan, the mercurial winners of
the 1992 World Cup, were knocked out of the 2007 edition in the first round
by minnows Ireland. The next day Woolmer was found dead in his Jamaica hotel
room.
Jamaican police at first said he was murdered but they were expected to announce
later today that he died of natural causes.
Inzamam ul Haq, who quit as Pakistan skipper after the
tournament, said Miandad was the best choice to coach the team after Woolmer
but Miandad said he was not interested.
"Why should I apply?" asked Miandad, who served as
coach between 1998-1999, then from 2000-2001 and again from 2003-2004, when
he was replaced by Woolmer.
"I have been busy with some assignments and once I complete them I will
start private coaching to help budding cricketers because I know cricket is
in my blood and I can't be away from it."
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