"Safe and secure" Misbah-ul-Haq not suitable for Pakistan head coach role, says Rameez Raja

Reports in Asia have suggested that former captain Misbah is the one of the frontrunners to take up the role, but Raja believes the side requires an aggressive approach

Rameez Raja believes Misbah-ul-Haq's "safe and secure" approach is unsuitable in the modern game and therefore believes the former batsman should not be appointed as head coach.

Pakistan's search for their next head coach is currently ongoing after Mickey Arthur's contract was not renewed by the board after the side failed to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Reports in Asia have suggested that former captain Misbah is the one of the frontrunners to take up the role, but Raja, a former captain himself, believes the side requires a more aggressive approach which the 45-year-old would be unable to provide.

"I do not have anything against Misbah because he took over the captaincy at a difficult time," Raja said on his own YouTube channel.

"He had his own way of approaching the game. He was defensive as he used to lie in wait for the opposition to make a mistake.

"But now the team needs a new direction. Pakistan has aggression but it needs to unearth the right talent and revamp its systems.

^{Misbah retired from cricket two years ago}

"That can only happen when the mindset is to be proactive not reactive. Unfortunately, Misbah's cricket, from what I've seen, is safe and secure, and has been successful in a certain type of situation.

"Pakistan needs a team for all seasons. Until Pakistan wins on away tours, they will not be respected. There is a major difference in winning at home and winning away."

Reports have also emerged that the man to take up the head coach role will also simultaneously be handed the chief selector's job, a move which Raja believes would be "impractical and unsuitable" for Pakistan.

"This idea can work in the western block where the administration is professional not just at the top tier but at every level; and where an individual can do no funny business even if he has absolute power.

"But in Pakistan cricket such an experiment is not without its risk. This is impractical and unsuitable. This has never been done before and no one has even tried it.

"There is no need for such an experiment now. The coach and chief selectors' roles should be kept apart."

To celebrate England winning the World Cup you can subscribe to The Cricketer for just £20.19. Click here to learn more