Pak players should be consulted regarding head coach selection: Akram

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said that had he been the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, he would have tried to have one leader for the national cricket team for at least an year, and would also consult the players before selecting the head coach.

When asked during an interview about the first couple of things he would implement straight away, if he were given the role of the PCB Chairman, Akram said: "First of all I would just try to have one leader [of the cricket team] and at least announce him for a year, and then get a coach and obviously get a guy who the boys will get along with."

"Either it's a foreign coach, or it's a Pakistani coach, whoever, you should ask the boys first because they are going to be working with him. Bring stability into the system and I think everything will eventually work," he told PakPassion.net.

After implementing the above-mentioned steps, Akram said, he would concentrate on stuff like looking for the right talent and getting it to the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

"The PCB have such wonderful facilities in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, everywhere, have people getting their youngsters, especially in summer where nobody does anything for a couple of months, to come. Also, try to get the Pakistan "A "and emerging sides on tours to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, wherever it can be arranged - the more tours, the more the players will improve and learn," he added.

Akram also said that while he was not against the hiring of a foreigner to succeed outgoing coach Waqar Younis, he would suggest finding someone from Pakistan.

"I'm all for a foreign coach, but like I said, it all depends on what the boys would be comfortable with. Nowadays, a foreign coach does not have access to first class cricket in Pakistan because of security issues and he can only see the Pakistan team. You have to know the second batch of players in Pakistan domestic cricket, how they are playing, how they've been performing too and watch them as well as the international players," the former captain said.

"I would say right now I recommend, we have enough talent in Pakistan, we have produced some great players. Waqar has done a good job and is leaving for personal reasons, so I would suggest find someone from Pakistan, and there are quite a few coaches available," he added.