PCB optimistic about Woodhill success as batting coach

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board is optimistic that the induction of a new batting coach in Australian Trent Woodhill will have a positive impact on the national team.

Woodhill is due to join the Pakistan team in London on May 27 ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. However, his appointment as batting coach has drawn criticism from former players and administrators with head coach Dav Whatmore making it clear he had no role to play in the Australian`s appointment. Woodhill`s appointment caught the Pakistani cricket community by surprise as he has not played first class cricket and his highest coaching position has been associate coach with New Zealand. A source in the PCB said that one primary consideration for appointing little-known Woodhill was the money he had asked from the board. "Among the other candidates, Grant Flower asked for a handsome fee and the board felt it would be better to first try out Woodhill," he said. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam said that the appointment of Woodhill came after a process of scrutinising other candidates as well. "Woodhill comes well recommended and he will be with the team for over three weeks in England and will have time to fine tune the batsmen in the tournament," said Alam, who is a senior PCB official. Alam said that Pakistan`s batting had been inconsistent and the idea behind bringing in a permanent batting coach was to give the players the best possible help to work on their problems. PTI