Pakistan left the cricketing world stunned with their 72-run win over England in the second Test match at Abu Dhabi. As the team erupted in celebrations at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, one of the prominent scenes was that of stand-in coach Mohsin Hasan Khan being thrown in jubilation by his team.
Much of Pakistan’s recent success has been (rightly) credited to the captaincy of Misbah-ul-Haq and his team’s newfound work ethic. Pakistan have now won all of their last four Test series, three of which have been played under the former chief selector, Khan, who took over the coaching reigns after the departure of Waqar Younis.
While Khan has been acting as the national team’s coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board has been looking to hire a permanent replacement for Younis. In former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, the board seems to have found the replacement but no official announcement has been made so far.
All this while, Khan has made no secret of his desire to continue with the job and has made a serious case for himself with the team’s recent success. However, with Whatmore being reportedly given the nod, Khan’s days as coach seem counted.
The PCB faces the dilemma of removing a coach who has not lost a series since he took charge, with a man who last coached a national side without much success.
Should the board go ahead and hire Whatmore as the permanent coach? Or should Khan’s tenure be extended?
If the coach is, indeed, changed, will it affect the team’s performance?
Dawn.com invites its readers to give their views and suggestions.
Unfortunately foreign coaches in Pakistan havent had any success. We should believe in the capabilities of our own people rather than relying on foreigners. Who was the coach when Pakistan won the 92 world cup. So in my opinion Mohsin should continue to work as the Pakistani team coach, especially when the team is performing this well.
Mohsin H Khan has delivered what was expected. Team looks well integrated behind him. What laurels a foreign coach will bring not understandable. Chairman Zaka has shown a great sense of maturity and put Pakistan cricket in a right direction, I think he understands merits and demerits of removing Mohsin H K.
If we are winning matches, why rock the boat. Maybe, down the road, if Mohsin khan fails to keep up the tempo of winning test matches, PCB can always find an alternate foreign coach if that is what we badly need. Give the guy a credit for doing what no one has done so far,
After reading all the comments the best think would be as emotions carry the day, Elect Imran Khan as Prime Minister and make Mohsin Khan the President hows that. A winning combination. Every one will be happy.
No, the current coach and former dashing opener of the ‘green-shirts’ should remain as the coach of the current cricket team because if a good combination is broken, it will be pretty hard to bring it back. At the same time, I will urge the PCB hierarcy to kindly retain the current captain, vice captain, manager, physio, doctors, trainers and all other members of the team management for a while, who are part and parcel of the current Pakistani cricket team since sustainability is something that can’t be achieved overnight.
Pak does not need foreign people in any sphere, give its people a chance. Even overseas born Pakistanis are not needed, there is the talent in Pakistan. Mohsin has played in all parts of the world, with winning and fighting players like Imran K, Javed M, Zaheer A, Sarfraz N, Mudassar N. He was an opener and therefore knows pressure and how to handle it. However, I am afraid, the PCB chief does not understand cricket, his latest comments talk about planning for the world cup. He forgot 5 day cricket is different to one ODIs and T20. In any case, Dav Whatmore does not really have a good record. Sri Lanka were getting better any way with their players peaking, other teams were weak, because they were rebuilding. How much can a coach really do – it is the player on the field on the day that plays. The coach can only coach, and help with planning. Mohsin can judge temprament and talent and polish it, using his experience of world class cricket, Pakistani style. Whatmore cannot do this, he will always see Pakistanis needing correction to play like the Aussies or English. Nothing against Whatmore, but if we can build the bomb with a Pakistani, cricket should not be a problem
Mohsin should take this team to Australia to find out he has no batsmen and no fast bowlers in this team.
He should also avoid making tall claims.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, or you might mess it up..
PCB should reconsider hiring a foreign coach. Mohsin could do and have done just as good a job as any foreign coach would do. PCB should be careful in allocating its resoures for such services as hiring of a foreign coach. Mohsin Khan should be given the opportunity until atleast the next world cup. When things are on the right track why change course. We overseas Pakistani find Mohsin Khan worthy of the coaching assignment and we are certain that he will do well.
Dav Whatmoe is a good coach and should be hired for the long term. Mohsin has been a great and my hats off to him however you become champions by being professionals and hiring the best talent available. Profesional teams always unpopular decisions because they know long term even most successful players or coaches have to be let go because future is most important and not the present.
Pakistan has won world cup without a coach! Mohsin has not done much coaching to this team, I guess the team has finally awaken and is doing what a team should do! Win. If the winning continues, I guess we should leave the team as is. Don’t touch or mend or change. if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it!
Qualified or not, Mohsin has proven that he deserves a qualified run as the Coach. I believe an able local is always better than a foreigner. Moreover, Mohsin’s tenure as the Chief Selector in PCB must have given him a very good perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistani cricketers, both in the domestic and national teams. I believe, Mohsin may not be as qualified as Whatmore, but Mohsin has proven to be a successful one; so stick with him until the team loses really badly
Zaka Ashraf needs do no more than view the TV footage of how the team celebrated the second test win with Mohsin Khan. He has motivated and inspired the team, with the help of captain Misbah, of course. The players seem not just to respect but love him. The key in my vioew is that he communicates with the players in manner and language the team understands and resons to. Dav will be at a uniques disadvantage in the communication area. So, PCB, there is a real risk that players may be upset if Mohsin is changed at this stage, which will no doubt affect their performance. Some people say that Mohsin is not a “qualified” coach. So be it. He is delivering results, which is what teams and countries ultimately need. Call him “mentor” instead of “coach” but don’t impose dav on the team. As they say in America: “dont’ fix it, if it ain’t broken. Why disturb an arrangement that is working perfectly well?
Mohsin Khan has good and inventive “local chemistry” for the team on its way forward. He should continue as the coach at least for a couple of years. Let us not be obsessed by foreign coaches, when we have competent persons in the land.
please leave Mohsin Khan alone he is doing an excellent job.
Why is it that now they r thinking of replaceing MK?
Waseem Akram gave coaching to Indian cricket team. Abdul Qadir was in Australia for coaching.
They are invited their because they have demand. If Pakis have talent then why are they talking about replacing him with other?
I respect MK because he was not only a good player but also a patriot but PCB just want to hire a foreigner
I agree with Fawad,
Mohsin Khan was a very good player, and he also is a patriot which one can feel from his speeches.
Just like Javaid Miandad ,he also has feelings for Pak & he will never try to let his country down.
The kind of coaching that he will give to Pak team you cannot expect this from a foreigner.
PCB should give more chance to MK, and pls note that their were 2 players(Don’t remember their names)in the team who were selected by Mohsin Khan.
When a team performs well under a coach,then the coach should be given more chance instead of replacing him. Mohsin Khan was a good cricketer & as ususal ,just like this govt, the cricket board wants to replace because they don’t want Pak cricket team to perform well in the future & definitely ugly indians must have complained about it because of the embarrasment that they faced after loosing against other teams inspite of being world champ.
I think it is the combined effort and skill of Misbah, saeed ajmal, Reman, Hafeez and ocourse the entire team. The team has relied around the captain to achieve these results. Mohsin khan has not been long enough to get any credit and for him to retain his position as a permanent coach, PCB should delay their decision at least a year before hiring a new coach and give enough time to Mohsin to show his mantle.
Why disrupt the winning combination ? I don’t see a reason for Mohsin to be replaced when he is doing a fine job. We always needed a coach who has played during Pakistan’s golden era when our cricketers used to be gentlemen. I think Mohsin fits the bill just fine. Players seem to be respecting him just like an elder brother who cajoles at successes but also has a tough attitude towards failure. Dav Whatmore hasn’t been very successful with Sri Lanka even though Sri Lankans seem to have a better grasp at english language, which is almost a pre requisite for a bunch of players who will be coached by someone who only knows english. I think Pakistan are better off with Mohsin.
Also, since he has been through the spot light during his acting days, he can educate the kids on how to handle international exposure and fame lest we might end up with the spot fixing saga again.
Let’s delay the decision of selecting a permanent coach for until the end of this year. The current performance of Pakistan team, though impressive, has not yet been enough to help making a correct decision because the team and coach’s performance has not yet in full circle – meaning the team’s success is not tested yet on the tough foreign grounds. Keep Mohsin as a temporary coach until Pakistan take a tour of either Australia, England, South Africa or India in their home grounds. Pak’s performance will then can be judged in full circle. If the team brings in more decent wins on foreign lands, coach Mohsin can become permanent. On the other hand, if their performance is not consistent, the Board will have strong point to bring in new Coach.
Credit goes to Mohsan Khan in formation of present winning combination of Pakistani cricket squad.He deserves applaud and encouragement. There is no rift,, politics or difference among the team players in presence of Mohsan Hassan khan so he should be retained as coach of national cricket team instead of a foreign coach.
I think we should go with current combination. Watch it for next 6 months. When we have history of through out everything after loosing any series ( from Coach to Captain ), so why we are changing our policy after wining … wining … wining.
Nothing succeeds like success! Mohsin has been coach for less than 2 series. His coaching experience is very limited and yet to be tested in alien conditions under quality opposition. This team is the product of Inti and Waqar Yunis. They were the ones who took over a depressed and condemned bunch of players and transformed them into a disciplined fighting unit. Mohsin is reaping the benefits of their hard work, though he too has done a good job but it is far too early to draw definite conclusions.
We get emotional very quickly. Our society is one in which political, social and cultural pressures play havoc with systems and professionalism. A strong foreign coach with decades of track record is less likely to be intimidated by a call from a minister, parliamentarian, leader of the opposition or a general; all knowing nothing about the game but nosy by nature. Generally, foreign coaches are more neutral and less inclined to individual favours in matters of selection. If England can set aside their egos and reach number one status under coaches from South Africa and Zimbabwe, including a bowling coach from Pakistan, we too should be looking ONLY at merit, not at the colour of passports in making our selection. If the committee constituted for the purpose of selecting the best coach has recommended Whatmore, it would be a tragedy in the long run if we let our emotions and other considerations force a different decision on them. Our history suggests we are more likely to make the wrong decision, yet again!!!!
Lets see…hmmm who was the coach when spot fixing was rampant? Deliberate dropped catches, missed runouts, no balls followed by overacting? To Intikhab’s credit, at least he tried to bring this to PCB’s attention. How soon people forget.
What is the track record of any foreign coach? What Dav whatmore has accomplished? Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have lost under his coaching. I totally disagree with author’s comment about Inti and Yunis behind this team success. Give Mohsin credit what he deserves. It was Mohsin some what. (I said some what because we all know Mohsin’s hand were tight with Imran Farhat’s selection occasionally by out side influence) fair selection that made it possible.
I am pretty sure if Mohsin was pure Lahori, this discussion would not have even started.
Kaleem Sahib, very well said I hope and pray that the authorties understand the need of the hour and do not decide emotionally.
Very well Kaleem: You have written what everyone else did not think—I agree with the fact that it was all due to Intikhab-Waqar. Specially Waqar who who took over a depressed and condemned bunch of players and transformed them into a disciplined fighting unit. Mohsin is reaping the benefits of their hard work, though he too has done a good job but it is far too early to draw definite conclusions.
Kaleem is absolutely right.
Mohsin Khan was at the right place at the right team. Waqar Younis is the man who was gelled this team, although Mohsin has helped selecting people like Azhar Ali, Shafiq, Abdul Rehman and others.
Mohsin Khan should return to being Chairman of Selectors, where is has done a good job and let Whatmore take care of on-field activities.
I could not have put it better myself.
I guess we dont know how much better the team could be under What-more? Mohsin may have a better chemistry with team players but long term will he be able to develop Pak team into true champions who are mentally tough and stand in Australia, England, India and South Africa on their home turf? We need a professional coach.