Andy Flower refused to be part of Pakistan team coaching race

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Former England team coach Andy Flower has refused to be considered as a candidate for the head coach position of the Pakistan cricket team. 

The decision comes as Pakistan, running out of time to appoint a foreign coach as preparations for the ICC World Cup 2023, which starts early this year. 

ALSO READ: Tom Moody out of Pakistan team coaching candidates list

Being the World Cup year, the preparations have to start early. He also knows that I am busy with franchise cricket. 

On the proposal of separate captains for the Pakistan team, he said that these days there is a trend of separate captains and coaching staff in all three formats.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan's correspondent in Abu Dhabi, Andy Flower statedthat he's currently busy coaching franchise cricket teams and wants to continue the same in the future. 

"I am currently enjoying the duties of franchise cricket, PCB is aware of this and therefore avoided the offer," he said.

Andy Flower stated that as he is not currently part of the Pakistan dressing room, it would be difficult for him to comment on the captaincy of any specific player. 

He emphasized that different players have different ways of scoring runs and that it is the role of the selectors, coach, and captain to work together to maintain the balance of the team. He used Surya Kumar Yadav as an example of a player with unique skills and innovation in his strokes

Andy also commented on the trend of having separate captains and coaching staff for different formats of the game, saying that it depends on the resources and talent of a country's players. 

"These days there is a trend of separate captains and coaching staff, but if a country has a cricketer who performs well in all three formats, then they can keep the same captain," Andy said. 

Refraining from commenting on the leadership, he said that the Pakistan star would be among the top cricketers in all formats and would be a part of any of the best playing XIs in the world.

"I appreciate Pakistan cricketers, they have extraordinary talent, some of them got the opportunity to participate in Big Bash League, I would like to see them play in ILT20 too," he said.

Andy also spoke positively about Pakistan captain Babar Azam, saying he is among the top cricketers in all formats, and praised Shan Masood's improvement in white-ball cricket.

" I consider Babar Azam as one of the top cricketers in all three formats, especially in T20, his performance was good," said Andy.

"Shan Masood is a good cricketer, in the last few years he has improved his skills in white ball cricket, he demonstrated it in practice in PSL, English county cricket. I gave a good performance, it boosted his confidence, he is also a good captain, I got a chance to work with him, I don't know what options are there for Shan but he can play a good role in any position because he has that ability," he concluded.

It is to be noted that Najam Sethi, the head of the management committee, while deciding to appoint a foreign coach, first contacted the former coach Mickey Arthur, but things could not be settled with him. Moody had expressed disinterest in being a part of this race in an interview, now Andy Flower has also distanced himself, thus Pakistan's options are becoming limited.