Geoff
Lawson, Pakistan's new coach, said he will have to instill a "killer's
instinct" in his new team if it is to reach the top in world
cricket.
Lawson
was speaking after arriving in the country on Monday night to
take up his post and prepare for the upcoming Twenty20 World Championship.
"Any side that wants to be world's best needs aggression,
the killer's instinct and must play to its strength and that's
what I would be looking at," Lawson told a press conference.
With
him from Australia is Pakistan's new trainer David Dwyer who is
famous for his stints in rugby. "Dwyer just finished work
with the rugby team in Australia and it would be good to have
the rugby attitude and with it comes the killer's instinct."
Lawson
said he was excited after having his first interaction with the
players on Tuesday morning and then overseeing a training session
in the evening. "Let me say I am thrilled and honoured to
be here and meeting with the players. The enthusiasm among the
players is outstanding and they are eager to do well," said
Lawson, whose first assignment will be next month's Twenty20 World
Championship in South Africa.
Pakistan
started a week-long training session before leaving for Kenya
where they feature in a tune-up Twenty20 event involving the hosts,
Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan
face Scotland in their first Twenty20 World Championship match
at Durban on September 12 before taking on India at the same venue
two days later. Lawson said four Pakistani players - former captain
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq
- joining the Indian Cricket League will not have a direct affect
on the rest of the squad.
But
he still hoped Yousuf would have a change of mind. "I feel
there would be no direct reflection of the players joining the
league because players make their decisions but I would certainly
hope Yousuf has a change of mind. Yousuf is a fine player and
he is not only worth it for his runs but also for his influence
on the younger players," Lawson said of Yousuf who amassed
1788 Test runs in 2006 - a world record for most runs in a calendar
year.
Lawson
ruled out players' attitude, especially that of the mercurial
Shoaib Akhtar, upsetting his planning. "Coaches have problems
with the attitude of the players and this goes back to 700BC and
it's nothing new. I don't see Akhtar as a problem. I am a fast
bowler first so I will have to deal with that," said Lawson
who took 180 wickets in 46 Tests for Australia.
Lawson
shrugged off comparisons with former team-mate Greg Chappell who
had a bitter experience as Indian coach. "I don't agree Greg
Chappell had a bitter experience; he spoke positively about the
Indian players and the way India have played in England shows
he did a good job." |