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In this exclusive interview, Craig White – former England all-rounder, current assistant coach of Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL, and former Yorkshire captain – shares his frontline experience coaching Pakistan’s emerging pace bowlers, turning around a struggling franchise, and the do's and don’ts of short-format coaching. The 30-Test veteran reflects on Pakistan’s coaching churn, the mindset of young talents like Saim Ayub and Akif Javed, and his ambitions in franchise cricket.
Key revelations include:
• Saim Ayub’s frustration: “Saim Ayub will just play a thoughtless shot” – He acknowledged the frustration of seeing Saim hit "a brilliant six or a lovely four" only to follow it up with what he described as a "thoughtless shot" to get out.
• Coaching turnover warning: “Too many messages can be really negative for a bowler” – White emphasizes the importance of consistency in coaching staff to avoid "scrambling" players' minds with too many conflicting messages.
• The Marnus Labuschagne effect: “Marnus Labuschagne was the glue of the batting unit” – Despite early struggles, Labuschagne proved his T20 value by acting as the "glue" of the batting unit. White praises his tactical sense and leadership as captain, particularly in how he manages bowling matchups.
• Akif Javed’s hidden issue: “Akif Javed is nervous about overstepping the line” – White identifies Akif’s primary hurdle as inconsistency caused by a fear of bowling no-balls, which affects his run-up confidence. He believes that once this technicality is resolved, Akif has the potential to return to the national side..
• Practice intensity secret: “Hunain Shah and Mo Ali practise at match intensity” – White is impressed by Hunain's intensity, noting that he practices with the same focus as a live game. Described as a "great character," Ali has secured a county contract with Nottinghamshire. White highlights his ability to adapt, specifically improving his performance during the difficult powerplay overs.
• Glenn Maxwell’s silent impact: “We won the first game he played. He didn’t do much with bat or ball” – White notes that Maxwell’s arrival provided a massive psychological boost. Even before performing on the field, his presence alone lifted the morale of the local players.
• Franchise coaching mantra: “Just run in and bowl fast, hit the pitch, commit 100%” – In short-form tournaments, White avoids major technical changes. Instead, he focuses on "small tweaks" and building trust. He encourages bowlers to commit 100% to their chosen delivery to eliminate doubt at the point of release.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
Key revelations include:
• Saim Ayub’s frustration: “Saim Ayub will just play a thoughtless shot” – He acknowledged the frustration of seeing Saim hit "a brilliant six or a lovely four" only to follow it up with what he described as a "thoughtless shot" to get out.
• Coaching turnover warning: “Too many messages can be really negative for a bowler” – White emphasizes the importance of consistency in coaching staff to avoid "scrambling" players' minds with too many conflicting messages.
• The Marnus Labuschagne effect: “Marnus Labuschagne was the glue of the batting unit” – Despite early struggles, Labuschagne proved his T20 value by acting as the "glue" of the batting unit. White praises his tactical sense and leadership as captain, particularly in how he manages bowling matchups.
• Akif Javed’s hidden issue: “Akif Javed is nervous about overstepping the line” – White identifies Akif’s primary hurdle as inconsistency caused by a fear of bowling no-balls, which affects his run-up confidence. He believes that once this technicality is resolved, Akif has the potential to return to the national side..
• Practice intensity secret: “Hunain Shah and Mo Ali practise at match intensity” – White is impressed by Hunain's intensity, noting that he practices with the same focus as a live game. Described as a "great character," Ali has secured a county contract with Nottinghamshire. White highlights his ability to adapt, specifically improving his performance during the difficult powerplay overs.
• Glenn Maxwell’s silent impact: “We won the first game he played. He didn’t do much with bat or ball” – White notes that Maxwell’s arrival provided a massive psychological boost. Even before performing on the field, his presence alone lifted the morale of the local players.
• Franchise coaching mantra: “Just run in and bowl fast, hit the pitch, commit 100%” – In short-form tournaments, White avoids major technical changes. Instead, he focuses on "small tweaks" and building trust. He encourages bowlers to commit 100% to their chosen delivery to eliminate doubt at the point of release.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
