Austrian coach George Kottan giving tips to Pakistan national team players in Lahore.—File photo by APP

KARACHI Pakistan have called in the Austrian coach of the country's football team to help their cricketers prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy.

George Kottan, hired by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) earlier this year, said he has been asked to give tips and lectures to the cricketers on improving their fitness for the tournament in South Africa starting later this month.

'Having played and coached football players all my life, it is a very different experience working on the fitness of cricketers,' Kottan said on Saturday.

'But since cricket is such a big sport in Pakistan, I got a good insight on how these guys work and achieve results.'

Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said the idea to invite Kottan to the training camp had come from captain Younus Khan.

'The players play football regularly in the camp and the feeling was that Kottan could give some valuable tips to the players as football is a very demanding sport,' Yawar said.—Reuters