Miandad offers help

Javed Miandad has held his hand up and publicly said he is willing to assist new Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson, despite criticising his appointment and saying that Dav Whatmore was the better option to take over from the late Bob Woolmer as the permanent coach. “I was and am always available whenever Pakistan cricket would need me” Miandad has been quoted as saying.

Lawson, the former Australian fast bowler, has stated that he wants to bring some of his critics into the coaching set up so that he and the team may benefit from their input. “I’d like to get Javed on board to be part of the coaching crew, to be part of the system and help out, because he was an outstanding player and a tough bloke as well,” Lawson said. “We could do with a few of those characteristics among the guys at the moment.”

Miandad, arguably the finest batsmen to have played for Pakistan, has coached his country on three previous occasions, Bob Woolmer replacing him in 2004 after his latest stint in charge. The relationship between the two was quite strained, leading Miandad to hope that “it will be different with Lawson”