ISLAMABAD: Test cricket legend Hanif Muhammad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint a new batting coach for the national team, citing poor showing by the batsmen in recent times.

Hanif said “current coach Waqar Younis cannot teach batting to the players” and therefore there is a dire need of appointing a new batting coach.

“The coach should be from Pakistan so he can manage the players well,” he added.

Hanif said in the Asia Cup Twenty20 opener against India, Pakistani batsmen batted poorly and therefore the bowlers were unable to defend such a low total.

“Our bowlers bowled magnificently but were unable to defend such a low total,” he said, adding Pakistan should have in their minds a target of about 130-150 when they bat first.

“It is very unfortunate that our batsmen couldn’t even stand at the crease for 20 overs when they batted first,” he added.

Hanif, who was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968, also said Khurram Manzoor should have been sent in to open instead of Muhammad Hafeez.

“Hafeez is good at one down and should have been sent at this number,” he said.

The batting great believes that Pakistan’s T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is a good captain.

“Afridi is a very good captain and it was bad luck that he got run out against India otherwise he would have scored well,” Hanif said.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2016