Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has urged the Pakistan senior players to learn from Rahul Dravid’s style of coaching in their quest to identify young talent from the nation. The former Pakistan skipper spoke about the dearth of young talent in the country at the moment.
Calling it an age-old tradition in Pakistan cricket, Shahid Afridi said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should start communicating with players in a better manner before dropping them from the national side.
“I think as it is we are facing a shortage of quality talent so what is coming through needs to be groomed properly by our former greats. They can do a lot with these young players,” Afridi said to Cricket Pakistan.
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Afridi cited the example of Mohammed Amir who announced his international retirement saying that he would not like the play under the current administration. Mohammed Asif is another example of a Pakistan international player who announced premature retirement.
“This is not a good tradition. The board has a sort of parental relationship with its cricketers. Whether it is Mohammad Amir or any other player, the PCB should communicate its plans with them so that they mentally prepare themselves if they are dropped due to any issues,” Afridi said further.
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He further said former Pakistan cricketers Inzamam Ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan should work at the grassroots level to churn out talent much like Rahul Dravid working with India A.
“I don’t think former players should just eye a role as the coach of the national side. Star cricketers such as Mohammad Yousaf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan can do wonders at the junior level similar to how Rahul Dravid has done in India,” Afridi stated.
Rahul Dravid is heading the National Cricket Academy and has worked tirelessly behind identifying young cricketers who went onto play international cricket for India. Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw are examples who have been groomed by Dravid ever since his coaching days with the India- 19 side.
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