KARACHI - Pakistan's former captain Javed Miandad has been sent to Sri Lanka by the cricket board to motivate the country's players before the Twenty20 World Cup.

"Let me make one thing clear there is a full support staff with the team in Sri Lanka. Dav Whatmore looks after the batting, Mohammad Akram after the bowling and Julian Fountain is for fielding. I am not going there on any coaching assignment," Miandad, who is also Director General (Cricket) in the Pakistan Cricket Board, told the media before leaving for Sri Lanka.
"My main task is to go there and try to motivate the players and raise their confidence. If any player is having any technical issues he can come to me for advice," he said. The former captain, who is presently heading the domestic and international cricket affairs in the PCB after being given a wider administrative role by Chairman Zaka Ashraf, will return home before the start of the mega-event on September 18.
The PCB has said Miandad is going there to have discussions with the players and give them advice on how to cope with the pressures of a World Cup. "He is not going there as a batting coach," one official added. But some former players and critics have questioned the wisdom behind sending Miandad to Sri Lanka at such a short notice just before the World Cup.
"I don't know whether it is a wise move since what sort of message is this conveying to Whatmore that the board is losing confidence in his abilities to motivate and life the team," one former test player questioned.
Miandad, who played 124 tests in an illustrious career, thrice served as head coach of the national team but had to step down or was asked to step down after problems with players or the board.