The Pakistan Cricket Board may recruit a trainer ahead of the Indian team's visit despite coach Javed Miandad's assertion that he did not need a specialist to assist him.
Chief selector Wasim Bari said many of the cricket playing nations have appointed professional trainers to improve their performance and it was time for Pakistan to have one on a regular basis.
Bari said Miandad was a "first class" coach but not a professional trainer. "The Australians, South Africans and Sri Lankans had hired the services of specialists in different departments and it is time Pakistanis too have one."
Bari, who quit as Chief Selector after Pakistan's debacle in the World Cup and was recently appointed to the same post, also said the team doctor, Dr Tauseef Razzaq was only doctor and could not double up as a trainer.
When reminded that Pakistan performed poorly in the last World Cup despite the services of a trainer, bowling and fielding coaches, Bari said there were other reasons for the debacle.
"We played badly in the World Cup due to ill-planning. I believe a specialist can improve the performance of a team," Bari was quoted as saying in the Dawn newspaper on Saturday.
The Chief selector's comments could cause a stir in the team management as Miandad recently said that the team does not need any specialist for the series against India.
Bari, who replaced Amir Sohail as Chief selector, said the Pakistan team for the One-day series would be announced on March 6 or 7. "I am not in a hurry to announce the team," he said.
He also hinted at some surprise names in the final squad saying it was not necessary that the team would be picked from 22 probables attending a camp in Lahore.
"We are watching the performance of the players in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and we have noted Azhar Mahmood is doing well," he said, opining that a sixth bowler was necessary for the team.
