Wasim Akram

Former Pakistani great Wasim Akram has said that Duncan Fletcher is probably the right man for the high handed job of coaching the Indian team. Mr. Akram calls Fletcher to be the right “Mentor” for the Indian team.

He also recounts his counterpart, Waqar Younis’ experience with the Zimbabwean national, when the Younis and Fletcher were a part of Glamorgan as player and coach a number of years back.

Also emphasizing on a basic fact was Mr. Akram, saying that the Indian team as such did not need anyone to coach them. He says, “This Indian team doesn’t need coaching, but Fletcher’s excellent man management skills will surely help.”

It is quite understandable that most of the coaching or learning is done in the domestic circuit. Especially with the advent of IPL , coaching techniques and knowledge is abound in the domestic level and even the new comers are already equipped with the skills required in all three departments of the game right from the word go.

It is quite natural that the Indian team at this point in time needs someone to be a mentor to them much the same way that Gray Kirsten went about his job, and harbors all the resources available to the team.

Akram also did not subscribe to the views of former Indian players like Mr. Gavaskar or Mr. Kapil Dev who are not really happy with the appointment of a foreign coach. Mr. Gavaskar had suggested the name of Mohinder Amarnath, who he believes, with all his comebacks in the national team ha the temperament to taste success after a temporary phase of failure.

Much the same way, Mr. Dev had gone on to the point of saying that “Who is Fletcher?” dismissing the claims that foreigners were better coaches.

However Wasim Akram believes that, “Our home-bred coaches have plenty of mood swings and preferences, but a foreigner will have no such things, no favorites. He just does his work, doesn’t talk much with the media and remains focused on his work.”

Mr. Akram also feels that Fletchers experience as coach in England, in the domestic circuit as well as with the national team, would be a great asset for India when they play the series in July. In his words, “Fletcher has done plenty of coaching in England, and he knows their players very well. Beating England at their backyard will be tough but Fletcher’s presence in the Indian dressing room will be a huge advantage.”

Tags: Coach, Cricket, Duncan Fletcher, Gray Kirsten, India, Indian Cricket, Wasim Akram