A deal Pakistan dropped

BRAD Haddin's mentor Steve Rixon has revealed he offered to help coach besieged Pakistan gloveman Kamran Akmal, but was rejected because the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to pay a $5000 fee.

As the deflated tourists sent an SOS for deputy keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, it has been revealed former Pakistan coach, ex-Australian Test quick Geoff Lawson, was so concerned about Kamran's technical flaws he contacted Rixon in 2008.

The former Australian Test gloveman and Haddin's confidant agreed in principle to help Kamran, only to be knocked back when the PCB insisted it would not meet his asking price.

Lawson said the decision had returned to haunt Pakistan, which crashed to a shock second Test defeat last Wednesday after the keeper endured a nightmare, dropping four second-innings catches.

"I would have absolutely helped him," said Rixon, who played 13 Tests and is regarded as one of world cricket's finest keeping coaches.

" 'Henry' (Lawson) actually rang me when he was the Pakistan coach, believe it or not he tried to get me to do work with Kamran. But it didn't eventuate because the board was counting their pennies.

"At the time, I had ICL commitments in India, I wasn't far away and there was a window of opportunity for me to help Kamran, which I was more than happy to do.

"Look at the two keepers (Brad Haddin and Kamran) and their performances in that (Sydney) Test and it was the difference.

"Brad was great and if Kamran takes one of those four dropped catches, it's all over - Pakistan win the Test.

"I wasn't asking for much, it was petty, but for whatever reason the PCB didn't want a bar of it. They deserve everything they get."

A veteran of 48 Tests, Kamran is in danger of being axed for this week's third Test in Hobart, with Sarfraz, his deputy on last month's tour of New Zealand, having been summoned from Pakistan.

It has also emerged former Pakistan gloveman Rashid Latif advised the PCB last year to stand the keeper down for six months to lose weight and improve his skills.

Lawson fears Kamran will be made a whipping boy in Pakistan and urged the tourists to call on Rixon to help the 28-year-old.

"I actually think the kid can be a good keeper," Lawson said.

"I can imagine the papers in Karachi would be slicing Kamran up because he's from Lahore and they would be pushing their local product.

"Sometimes it doesn't take much to get a guy back to form but you need the right coaches to do it.

"The PCB didn't want to invest in Kamran and it's cost them a Test match and the series."