Famous batting coach Toby Radford is optimistic about finding another Babar Azam through Pakistan Cricket Board’s PCB Pathway Programme and Pakistan Junior League (PJL). Being impressed by the young batters with intense skill, he is hopeful that someone like Babar might arise soon for the national side.
Radford was appointed by the PCB for the Engro Cricket Coaching Project that is currently underway at the National-High Performance Center. He has also coached the West Indies Cricket Team during ICC T20 World Cup 2012, alongside building a massive portfolio in coaching.
PCB earlier named the coaches for its Pathway Programme, and Radford was one of them. He was joined by Gordon Parsons (bowling coach), Julian Wood (power-hitting coach), Julien Fountain (fielding coach) and Nick Webb (strength and conditioning coach) at the NHPC last week.
After the conclusion of the Pathway Programme, he will take charge as ‘head coach’ of the PJL team, Rawalpindi Raiders. As quoted by the board, he narrated,
“I have always been a huge fan of Pakistan cricket as the players here have a huge natural ability and flair. I am really excited and look forward to working with these players. In the few days that I have been here, I have seen a lot of talent, and it is really all about harnessing the talent,”
“The hope is that we will find another Babar Azam; that should be the plan to find some real quality and then harness that quality.
Notably, Babar has been one of the consistent batters across all formats. He has been in the chapters of everybody ruling the batting world. However, his fallen form in T20Is has dropped him to the fourth position in the ICC T20I rankings for batters.
