Dean Jones asks Pakistan players to draw inspiration from Virat Kohli
Jun 21, 2016 at 2:01 PM
One of the biggest rivalries in the world of sport is the neighbourhood brawl between India and Pakistan on the field of Cricket.
However, there has never been any shortage of admiration between the two sets of players as both countries have produced some legendary cricketers over the years.
So it does not come as a surprise that India’s current super star Virat Kohli is a source of inspiration for budding cricketers even in Pakistan.
And stressing on the fact was former Australian cricketer, Dean Jones.
The cricket turned commentator felt that the Indian batsman was in great shape and that the Pakistan international players should try and reach his level if they want to be successful in their career.
“Kohli is the level that the Pakistani cricketers like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq need to get to,” said Jones in an interview to Pakpassion.net.
Dean Jones felt that none of the Pakistan players are close to as fit as Kohli and exclaimed, “Just look at the example of Virat Kohli. He’s lifting 150-kilogram weights. The guy has a body fat of less than 8 per cent,”
“I don’t believe too many Pakistani cricketers are athletes. They (Pakistanis) should work on their fielding aspects and their attitude to every aspect of their game,” he added about the team who he was about to take over before Mickey Arthur spoiled his plans.
He also spoke about the upcoming tour to England and felt that the Pakistan bowlers had it in them to dominate the home side in favourable conditions.
However, he urged the team to improve on their slip fielding and said that it would prove costly if slip catching was poor.
“I think the Pakistani bowlers will do very well but they need the support of the slip fielders and that could be a problem,” he added.
He also added that the likes of Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan who are by far the most experienced players in the squad will have to take the responsibility of the team and should lead them from the front.
Dean Jones also spoke about Misbah ul Haq who is now 42 and turned down any suggestions about retiring from the game.
He encouraged the 42-year old to keep going till he can and said that he should have no problems completing the tour to England.
“Age is just a number. Graham Gooch played for England after he was forty years of age. Misbah’s got the body of a twenty-five-year-old. He’s definitely fit enough and good enough to continue playing for Pakistan,” said the Islamabad United coach.
The first test of the series will be played at Lords in London on the 14th of July.