A coach must be primarily a communicator: Iqbal

Chennai, June 26 (UNI) Former Pakistan off-spinner Iqbal Sikandar has said that a coach must be a ''fantastic communicator'' and inspire the team from behind.

Sikandar, who is presently coaching and nurturing the fledgling Afghanistan cricket team to graduate to ICC Test and ODI status and is here with the team for the Asian Cricket Council's special coaching programme at the MRF Pace Foundation, said Dav Whatmore is an ''excellent communicator'' although he had played only a limited number of Test matches.

''That's why the current Pakistan team needs a coach like him, he said, adding ''Javed Miandad was a fantastic player but not a sound communicator''.

Talking to newspersons, he said former Aussie captain and former team India coach Greg Chappel was a ''fantastic player'' but he was never a successful coach.

Sikandar also said, ''so far as Pakistan cricket is concerned, Imran Khan played the role of captain, coach, mentor and often selector.

The team did not feel the necessity for a coach then.

''But now it required a good coach primarily a good communicator'' hinting that Whatmore may be the man for the job.

UNI