Islamabad United coach Dean Jones asks for better pitches for PSL 3

Islamabad United coach Dean Jones has called for better pitches in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) that will allow players participating in the league to express themselves better in the next edition. PSL season three is slated to be played in February 2018 with 6 participating teams.

Responding to questions the Islamabad United coach said that he was satisfied with the squad following the PSL3 players’ draft. He said they went into the draft with a plan and a set of players on their minds, at the end of it they were able to execute it and rope in the kind of players they wanted.

Happy with our choices

“Well we planned well and we got what we planned for, so obviously we are happy with our choices,” said Dean Jones, who is also called ‘The Ustaad’ by the franchise Islamabad United.

While praising the standard of PSL as compared to the other leagues around the world, the former Australian cricketer hoped for better pitches which can allow players to give their best during the competition.

“To get the best out of all the overseas players, we need to have good pitches! Not low and slow as we have had a few matches in previous two PSLs,” he said.

The 56-year-old veteran of 52 Tests and 164 ODIs lauded PSL’s contribution to the growth of Pakistan cricket and said that the idea to include emerging players in the playing XI has proved to be a great one and has helped new talent emerge.

He also mentioned how the league brought Shadab Khan to the limelight saying that he was proud to see Islamabad United players representing Pakistan.

“Well it’s definitely fast-tracked them for Pakistan,” he said when asked how PSL has helped young Shadab Khan grow us a player. “The idea of the fact that teams have to play an emerging player has been a great one! We take a lot of pride when our boys represent their country,” he added.

He highlighted the contributions of overseas staff working with different teams, saying that overseas staff and players making the Pakistani players understand that they must get fitter and they must improve their fielding.