Ijaz Ahmed appointed Pakistan Under-19s head coach

[Abdullah719]

Lahore, 26 August 2019:

Former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed has been appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan U19 cricket team on a three-year contract, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today.

Ijaz has been in coaching since 2009, serving as the head coach for Pakistan “A” and U19 sides. He also took up the head coach’s role with the national men’s side (in 2010) during his stint as an assistant coach.

Ijaz will also work very closely with the Pakistan U16 and Pakistan “A” sides and will assume charge following the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2019, to be played in Colombo from 5 to 14 September.

His first assignment is likely to be the “A” team eight-nation T20 tournament in Kenya next month. The junior teams’ other international assignments this season are U16 home series against Bangladesh, which starts in October, ACC Emerging Teams’ Asia Cup in Bangladesh in November and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 in South Africa next year.

Ijaz was chosen for the assignment following a robust recruitment process in which a number of high-profile and quality former international cricketers were interviewed by Wasim Khan and Mudassar Nazar.

Ijaz Ahmed said: “I am thankful to the PCB for trusting me with the important responsibility of grooming and nurturing the future stars of Pakistan cricket. Junior cricket is a lifeline for any cricketing nation; as it sees talented youngsters graduate to senior cricket and carry forward the legacy of some of the greatest cricketers this proud nation has produced.

“I am excited with this opportunity and look forward to playing my part in what are exciting times for Pakistan cricket.”

Mudassar Nazar said: “I have seen Ijaz Ahmed develop as one of the most talented coaches. He has a vision and strategy. He is hard working and has a reputation of being a good student of cricket who can analyse the game and spot talent.

“I have no doubts Ijaz will be make a significant contribution as a Pakistan U19 coach as the PCB has stepped up its endeavours to not only narrow the gap with international cricket but provide equal and fair opportunities to all the budding youngsters in the country.”

About Ijaz Ahmed:

• Played 60 Tests and 250 ODIs between 1986 and 2001, scoring 3,315 and 6,564 runs, respectively

• Played first-class cricket from 1983 to 2007, scoring 9,889 runs in 169 matches

• Qualified Level-II coach.

• Served as Pakistan assistant coach for the ICC T20 World Cup 2010 and in the series against England and Asia Cup that year. He was also the head coach for the national men’s side for the T20I series against England in 2010. In 2011, he again served as Pakistan assistant coach for the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe series.

• Served as head coach of Pakistan “A” sides to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Kenya (all 2009). He was also the head coach for Pakistan in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010.

– ENDS –

 

[Markhor]

Didn't exactly have a textbook technique himself.

 

[Loralai]

Wasn't he charged in a forgery case recently and also named in Qayyum report? We should stay away from shady characters like Ijaz.

 

[topspin]

Didn't exactly have a textbook technique himself.

What a shining example of textbook technique for the youngster beauties to learn from.

 

[shah_1]

From Younis Khan to this

PCB is pretty cheap, isn't willing to spend at all. Likes of Zakir Khan, Haroon Rasheed and Mudasar Nassar need to be kicked out

 

[unemployedgm]

1. Ijaz if I'm not incorrect was a major part of the match fixing problem.

2. Ijaz has held various posts in the pcb like this one and demonstrated little to no effectiveness.

We can debate Misbah, but this appointment is a black Mark on Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani's rein. There are better more qualified candidates to take this role and not only be an effective teacher but someone who can be a good influence on impressionable young boys.

Finally, I am shocked how little we take into account two very important criteria, capability and character.

 

[shah_1]

1. Ijaz if I'm not incorrect was a major part of the match fixing problem.

2. Ijaz has held various posts in the pcb like this one and demonstrated little to no effectiveness.

We can debate Misbah, but this appointment is a black Mark on Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani's rein. There are better more qualified candidates to take this role and not only be an effective teacher but someone who can be a good influence on impressionable young boys.
Finally, I am shocked how little we take into account two very important criteria, capability and character.

Wasim Khan is no better than Ijaz butt and Zaka Ashraf

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Poor choice.

Saqlain Mushtaq would have been better.

 

[Markhor]

1. Ijaz if I'm not incorrect was a major part of the match fixing problem.

2. Ijaz has held various posts in the pcb like this one and demonstrated little to no effectiveness.

We can debate Misbah, but this appointment is a black Mark on Wasim Khan and Ehsan Mani's rein. There are better more qualified candidates to take this role and not only be an effective teacher but someone who can be a good influence on impressionable young boys.
Finally, I am shocked how little we take into account two very important criteria, capability and character.

He's Saleem Malik's brother in law no less.

PCB have been a shambles on the hiring front.

 

[ataullah]

Poor choice.

Saqlain Mushtaq would have been better.

PCB couldn't match saqis financial demands according to reports

 

[Mueez]

Bad decision.

 

[Titan24]

Has served as coach of U19 previously as well and did a much better job than coaches associated with U19 teams in WC recently.

 

[Titan24]

Other candidates were Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdul Razaq, Atiquz Zaman, Azam Khan and Kabir Khan.

Source: https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/n...tes-in-race-to-become-pakistan-under-19-coach

Considering U19 WC is next year PCB have gone with already experienced safer option.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Can't believe they have made him coach.

How is this PCB admin different then the others?!

 

[Justcrazy]

Saqlain should have been picked , PCB need to spend money if they want better results.

 

[Major]

people here are criticizing, but lett me remind you that for junior teams not many people apply.

You wont see some foreign coach appplying for the junior team. PCB went after Younis KHan but the guy has a massive ego.

 

[Pete Rose]

I have many names for this dismissal if ijaz by Cork....poor technique is the last of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n80n_t0FTw4

 

[Pete Rose]

What a shining example of textbook technique for the youngster beauties to learn from.

this is not about technique...this is something else

 

[silent ischemia]

To add insult to injury he will be the coach of the A team as well

 

[MMHS]

Of all the names I read, Kabir Khan was by far the best candidate - he is an ECB Level III coach (highest qualified among all Pakistanis & and ECB Level 3 program is the best in world at that level). And, he had managed Afghan team for half a decade in two terms, managed UAE team and had managed Habib Bank for 3+ years. He was short listed by BCB for Bangladesh bowling coach’s job which eventually went to Streak. I am sure, Kabir has some issues with PCB, otherwise he is actually a better candidate than Mo Akram or WY to take the National bowling role. Afghan pacers like Shapoor & Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hasan built & developed their skills under Kabir without much backup from their system.

He is a Level 3 badge holder, so he must have gone through adequate lessons in batting area as well. I read somewhere that up-to Level 2 is about specialization (in batting, bowling or fielding), Level 3 is over all technical skills while level 4 add team/squad management as well (strategy, man management, training regime, diets, media handling ....). ECB Level 4 is probably 2 years program, and one needs to have minimum educational background to enrol the program. In that regard, Kabir would have been a fantastic choice for the U19 boys to learn basics of the game. Saqline was another good choice, but he should focus more to be a specialist spin bowling coach.

Ijaz isn’t a bad choice, keeping in mind that his past disciplinary record as player is very poor, but he is hard working. One main issue I see in his appointment is that PAK boys often comes from Tape-tennis background and their technique is poor, bottom hand dominated. To my memory, Ijaz is technically the worst No. 3 I have seen to play more than 50 Test innings there. And, his entire batting philosophy was built around bottom hand butchery - not the ideal guy for PAK boys. Yes, there are coaches like Hesson or Domingo without even any FC game as player, but these guys are highly trained professionals with Level 3-4 badges from some of best systems and they have gone through several self-development programs in last 20 years; Ijaz is like a former player turned coach, ala Mohsin Hasan Khan - not sure how it’ll work for young PAK batsmen.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Very happy with the appointment if Mudassar is vouching for him.

 

[moghul]

Misbah: Head Coach of senior team
Faisal Iqbal : batting coach
Aqib Javed: Bowling coach
Ejaz Ahmed: Junior team coach

Exciting time is ahead for Pakistan team
PCB paying high salary to Waseem Khan but he is doing an amazing job, bravo.

 

[uberkoen]

First of all Ejaz Ahmed was an amazing fielder back in his day so I'm hoping he will instill some of that in the youngsters. Secondly, during his last appointment as U19's coach we reached the final of the U19 World Cup only to lose to Australia in New Zealand. It was that team which produced the like of Babar Azam, Ahmed Shehzad, Hammad Azam and Usman Qadir.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I would have preferred if Misbah had gone for this instead for the Pakistan job.

Meanwhile making Saqlain his deputy and also as bowling coach, meanwhile hiring some internationals as strength and conditioning and physio.

Shame they have gone for the cheapest options once again especially with Wasim Khan incharge.

 

[silentkiller187]

What a shining example of textbook technique for the youngster beauties to learn from.

Textbook fix shot, great technique.

 

[LordJames]

Ijaz Ahmed has a player and Ijaz Ahmed as a Coach are two separate issues.

So far, nobody has anything negative to say about Ijaz the Coach.

Ijaz Ahmed 141 against England

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QQ7Ah2wyr6w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MenInG]

News reports indicate that Ijaz Ahmed will also be the coach for the Pakistan A (Shaheens) tour of New Zealand.

 

[Shafi]

News reports indicate that Ijaz Ahmed will also be the coach for the Pakistan A (Shaheens) tour of New Zealand.

Why changes coach so many times?Our team will never setted.