Pakistan’s cricket management wants to appoint South African star Jonty Rhodes as fielding coach, a top cricket board official has said.
“We will approach Rhodes either in Sharjah or Sri Lanka and offer him the job of fielding coach,” chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tauqir Zia said.
Pakistan are embarking on four months of non-stop cricket during which the team will face South Africa in two triangular competitions, the first in Sharjah and the second in Sri Lanka.
Rhodes is not with the South African cricket team currently touring India. But his absence doesn’t affect his reputation as one of the finest fielders in the game today.
“We want him to teach our players how to improve fielding. Besides, we would also like him to tell our players the secret to his top class fitness,” Zia said on Monday.
Pakistan dropped four catches, including two very crucial ones, in Rawalpindi where they lost the first of a three-test series against Sri Lanka last week.
Pakistan were 88 for two at the close of the first day of the rain-hit second test on Sunday.
Zia said Rhodes would be asked to come to Pakistan directly from Sri Lanka for at least two months.
“After July 13, there are no assignments of the South Africa team. So I believe he can afford to spare some time for us.”
Pakistan on Sunday reappointed former captain Javed Miandad as team coach and retained Saeed Anwar as captain until July 13, when Pakistan end their tour.
Pakistan leave for Sharjah on March 19 to face India and South Africa in a limited overs series.
After that the team goes to the Caribbean for a triangular one-day tournament with the West Indies and Zimbabwe, followed by three tests against the West Indies.
Pakistan then travel to Dhaka for the Asia Cup, followed by a trip to Sri Lanka for three tests and a triangular series that also includes South Africa.
Not so sure whether this will be a good move.
