Hafeez says local or foreign coach does not make difference

Karachi: Pakistan Twenty20 captain Muhammad Hafeez believes that it does not make a difference whether the Board appoints a foreign or local coach for the national team.

Hafeez also felt that the outgoing Australian coach of the team, Dav Whatmore had done his best.

"It does not make a difference whether we have a foreign or local coach this is a decision to be taken by the board," Hafeez said.

"But I can say this Whatmore also worked hard with us and did his best. The coach can only do things to an extent the rest is up to the players," he added.

Pakistan manager Moin Khan, on the other hand, has spoken out against having a foreign coach for the national team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is due to announce the appointment of a new coach after Whatmore confirmed recently he would not be seeking an exension of his two year contract with the PCB.

In this background, the statements from Moin and Hafeez, both leaving for Dubai for the series against Sri Lanka, carry a lot of significance.

"I've always favoured a local coach. I said this even when I was not associated with the team as manager. Players can have a good understanding with a local coach and this can be useful in bringing improvement," Moin told reporters.

"We should utilise services of our former cricketers for the task," said Moin but expressed his availability for the position.

"I am available to serve my country in any capacity."

Moin's statement before the team departure was being seen as ill-timed by some former players and critics who believe they would not help the environment in the dressing room for the Lanka series.

There was speculation that the interim management committee of the Board at a recent meeting unanimously decided that former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq should be approached with a coaching offer.

According to sources, another former captain Waqar Younis is also in the running for the head coach's position.