We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

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Now Afridi joins Ramiz in claiming “no coach necessary” approach. It seems from his interview that he supports Malik in a genuine way. As always not afraid to say what is on his mind.

We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi
By Liaqat Ali
23 May 2007

ABU DHABI — Shahid Afridi is one of most destructive one-day batsmen of this era. He is one of the biggest crowdpuller in modern day cricket. On his day he can tear any attack apart the way he did against Sri Lanka during first match of the Warid Cricket series here.

During an interview with Khaleej Times he expressed his views about the game and said, “I have played a lot of cricket and come across a lot of advisors. Every Tom, Dick and Harry tells me to play responsibly.
“This is my way of playing cricket. Since childhood I had a fancy of hitting sixes and fours and nothing else. I know fans also expect the same from me.
“It is not in my control to go out and play defensively. This is my style and I am not going to change it at any cost.
“Cricket is lot for me but it is not everything. I can live and survive without it.
“I want to enjoy the game in the most natural way.”

Straight-talking Pathan added, “I always concentrate on my bowling and batting is secondary for me. In my view I am a bowling all-rounder.
“I am happy that I bowled well in second match and contributed a bit to series win for Pakistan against tough opponents like Sri Lanka.”

Afridi added, “After the early exit from the World Cup we were target of criticism especially by ex-cricketers.
“It really hurts and being a young team we have done our best to shut their mouths.
“We will try to make it 3-0 today to show them that we can beat the second best team of the world.”

When asked about the new team and captain, he said, “This young team has great potential. It has shown lot of spirit.
“Our new captain Shoaib Malik has proved that he can be a good captain. He doesn’t hesitate to discuss things with seniors.
“During first two matches he consulted every senior player before taking any decision. He doesn’t go alone and never asserts his authority unnecessarily. I can foresee a great future for him.”

On the issue of the coach, the dashing all-rounder was very blunt and said, “We don’t need a coach at all. Look at the coaches of Australia and South Africa, they may have played first class cricket only but look at the performance of their teams.
“At international level, you need to perform and win matches. There is no time to tinker with the techniques of the players.

“Senior teams only need fielding coaches who can arrange different drills for the boys. Mohtasim Rasheed, a younger brother of ex-Test cricketer Haroon Rasheed can be good fielding coach for Pakistan. “Coaches should be deployed in academies where youngsters can be groomed properly.
“After 25 or 30 years there is no time to learn ABC of cricket. It is time to perform.”

While talking about his innings against Sri Lanka during the first match, he said, “Nothing was planned, I just wanted to play my natural game.
“I knew Abdul Razzaq is there and if I get out early, he will handle the innings. And once I started hitting, everything went in my way and we finished the match in 42 overs.”

One of the best fielders in the side is not happy with the fielding standards of Pakistan.
In his view, “Boys don’t enjoy fielding which is main hurdle to lift the standard. I hope our new work ethics will bring a sea-change in every department of the game.”

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

I agree with Afridi on this.

High-profile Coaches are a recent phenomenon in International Cricket. Just 15 years ago, people would be hard-pressed to tell who the Coach of various teams were. For example, I do not think there was any Coach in the Indian team when they won the world cup in 1983.

Unlike in other Sports, Coaches have limited privileges in Cricket which restrains their ability to have an impact on the game significantly. For example, when the team is fielding, the Coach is not standing by the boundary line barking instructions (like in Soccer or Hockey). Some Coaches acually maintain a total hands-off attitude when the game is in progress leaving all decisions to the Captain (eg batting order, declarations etc). The Coach (in cricket) does not usually have much say in the selection process also.

A good , analytical, intelligent Captain is a MUST. A $10000000000000/yr Coach is NOT.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

Some1, Would you be kind enough to translate your hindi (I am assuming it is hindi) signature for me? I am just curious to know what it means. Regards

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

^ Well...I could have put anything in there (I have interesting ideas) without attracting the attention of the moderators....but I settled for :

मजहब नहीं सिखाता, आपस में बैर रखना
Mazhab Nahi Sikhata, Aapas Me Bair Rakhna

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

really nice one.....

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

On a related note, excerpt from an article in today’s DAWN :
http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/24/spt2.htm

*Inzamam, who retired from ODIs after the World Cup and relinquished the captaincy, also lashed out at critics and former players who felt there was no need for a coach in the team.

“I don’t bother about such people. They don’t realise that cricket has changed in the last 10 to 15 years and now there is a lot off planning involved in everything. The captain does not have time to concentrate on these things. This is the job of the coach,” he explained.

“All the teams who have done well in recent times have had good coaches. We definitely need to appoint a qualified coach who can help out Malik and the other players and introduce a method of playing the game within the team,” Inzamam added.—Agencies
*

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

^ I agree with Inzi. However, I agree with you and others of the same opinion that a coach is needed but some one who is committed, energetic and can deliver good mentoring. Not a high profile personality who the media follow and is power hungry like Mr. so and so who coached another neighbouring team.
If Boon from England can do it then so be it. If a Pakistani can do it then that's fine as well. The coach who was with the Under 19 team in Australia seems to be a good example. Some one of the same calibre would probably work!

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

[quote=““gravity_killz””]

So Afridi is happy on getting protocol from Malik. Consulting seniors is good but consulting them all for all the decision is not possible. You cant make everyone happy.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

Another stale statement by brainless player :smack: and he had high regards for Woolmer (R.I.P) as a coach.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

The way I see it, it’s an issue of opportunity cost.

Sure, the captain can do it all… play for the team, practice in the nets, conduct an “after-the-fact” analysis of what worked and what didn’t in the team’s last game, devise strategies for upcoming games, track opponent players and identify their strengths and weaknesses just before the start of a new series, talk to the team at a group level to disseminate his vision, and also individually to each team member to help them realize what their role is and their goals should be.

Yes… the captain can do all this… but at what opportunity cost? May be his own game and performance on the field ??

I can certainly see that the senior members in the team are wise enough to maintain their own training roster and regiments and perhaps the coach won’t play a major role except in the camp just before the series… but remember that we’re trying to foster young talent who’re coming straight out of the U19s and such and these guys would still need ongoing diagnosis of their techniques and require additional mentoring and advice before they can realize their full potential.

All this being said, a coach can be anyone who has the analytical ability to diagnose problems when he sees them and talk to players about it. I suppose this is what is taught in the standard coaching courses endorsed by the ICC… but it can certainly be an inherent personal trait and self-leaned through prior experience.

So yes, I don’t think we need a high-profile exxy benly coach – but we do need a coach.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

It depends what role you'll be giving to the coach. I think Pakistan definitely need a bowling and fielding coach.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

I can certainly see why Afridi not only doesn't need a coach, but actually is irritated by the whole coach concept. I'll be more interested in Malik's thought on this question rather than Afridi. Some people are not born to be trained. They are all pakkay pakayay ready-to-serve variety. Afridi is one of them.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

I will echo the sentiments that some of you have shared. I believe it depends on the situation... To some extents Afrdid is right, you dont need to learn the ABCs of cricket if you are in the National side already..... however, you do need to keep working on your game to improve your weak areas.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

Its funny when I hear Ramiz Raja claiming Pakistan doesent need a coach..because an average player like Ramiz seems to think he knows more than all the test playing nations around the world and their managements do...because every country has a professional coach and a skilled management team to support the skipper and his team, yet according to Ramiz, Pakistan just doesent need a top coach! Moron !

Every senior team needs a coach..the roles are defined according to the team. Australia will never need the services of a Bob Woolmer (RIP), Greg Chappell, or any other high profile coach because their players are so well trained by the time they get to the national team, that all you need is a good man manager like say John Buchanan to get the best out of the players. Other teams, like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India do not have such 'ready-made' players when they get to the national team. Sure, people like Afridi, think they are 'superstars in their own right and dont need coaches' but thats more their lack of intelligence and arrogance talking than common sense.

Pakistans cricket structure sucks, pure and simple. It'll take year to fix it. When it gets to Australias level, then maybe you can talk about coaching again. For now, the players need coaches at every level, especially at the senior level where the game has begun to move at such a fast pace that the skipper needs a professional and well respected coach sitting in the dressing room and helping the captain as much as he can. Another reason for a top professional coach is to make our lazy log seniors like Yousef,Afridi,Razzaq and company do the same fielding and fitness drills that the rest of the team are doing, and bring about professional pride in our players, something which most of the current crop lack.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

I am just glad that Afridi is being put to the right use. A player. No VC sheecee. I like where he is now. He needs to hit more of those 32 runs per over and win matches for Pakistan. Period.

To My Phrindz hehehehehe
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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

We also do not need loud mouthed, boorish kamakazis.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

So long as the player's performance can be improved..they will always need a coach.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

Frankly, we don't need a cricket team.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

its the attitude Afridi has towards the whole concept of getting advice and coaching that is troublesome, and is probably why coaches dont have much impact.

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Re: We don’t need a coach at all: Afridi

Nicely written and totally agree with you.:biggthumb

Also, if you don't have a coach how will the 'Learners' like Akaml and few of the other jokers improve?

paki girl ,paki western guy and western culture