Good captaincy more important than selectors or coaches, says Imran Khan

Amidst growing speculation regarding the selection of the head coach for Team India, it might do well to keep in mind what has been said regarding the position. In the past few days, the race has intensified with options like Anil Kumble now on the table. Much has already been said about the importance of this job by cricketers around the world who, presumably, have been following this issue very closely. India, as a major cricket playing country, elicits a lot of interest and observation especially during a the filling of a position as important as this.

Speaking to ARY News recently, former Pakistan captain turned politician Imran Khan spoke about the upcoming Pakistan tour of England and highlighted the importance of captains in a side, “Selectors or coaches don’t win you matches, a good captain lifts the team and helps them win matches.” this statement, of course, is in tandem with Imran Khan’s earlier views on the subject.

He went on to add that it seemed “crazy” to have three different captains for three different formats. “There should be one captain for Tests and one for limited overs”.. Reminiscing on his days as Pakistan cricket captain, Khan said that his work included a complete analysis of the way his team played at the end of any match.

He seemed to stress on how strong on-field leadership and the ability to take quick decisions for his team are qualities that make a good captain and subsequently, a good team.

In the competition that is currently brewing, the BCCI advisory committee would do well to remember Khan's earlier views on the matter. In 2011, when similar speculation surrounded the appointment of the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Imran Khan said that “good players and a good quality captain” are more important for a cricket team to perform well.

“The obsession with coaches” as he called it, was totally unnecessary and he went on to back his claims with the brilliance of the then Australian cricket team. “Coaches basically have very limited ability to help a team and I don't understand this obsession with coaches, because basically Australia was not the best team because of their coach, they were the best team because they were a great team and they had a good domestic cricket structure which kept on throwing up good players and they had a good quality captain,” he said.

He also added, "If a coach was such a big thing then Zimbabwe or Bangladesh or one of the other weaker teams could just have a good coach and he could transform the team. It cannot work like that. Yes, a captain can play a major role but not a coach. I always find that people do not understand that cricket is perhaps the only game that needs leadership and that needs a captain who needs to be a leader.”