Inzamam, Grant Flower are in race to become Pakistan’s batting coach

Mumbai: Grant Flower, the former Zimbabwe batsman doesn't consider Inzamam-ul-Haq as his competitor for the Pakistan batting job.

The 43-year-right handed Zimbabwean batsman who also bowled left-arm orthodox, has confirmed having applied with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the batting coach. The team's former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is also in the race.

"I don't consider Inzamam as my rival. Inzi was a great batsman and is a good coach. It is up to the PCB to appoint the right candidate," Flower, now in UK to meet his family members, said exclusively over telephone.

Flower, who has scored more than ten thousand runs in Tests and ODIs', has not appeared for the interview, but the PCB officials are already likely to have "negotiated" with him over the phone, it is learnt here.

"There are lot of players who have applied for the job and it is going to be a big competition", Flower said. Lot will also depend on who takes over as Head Coach.

Flower was non-committal on whether the batsman is more beneficial as Head Coach or the bowler as there are pros and cons.

Flower considers safety and security issues in Pakistan are improved now. "Relatively the situation is lot better and we see positives (in working in Pakistan). My family will back me if I am appointed to work as coach in Pakistan," he added.

Grant Flower's elder brother Andy Flower was also England coach. Interestingly, both brothers registered centuries in the same innings against Pakistan (at Harare, 1995) and their team won the Test by an innings. In the same Test, Inzi's 71 runs could not save the follow-on.