New Pakistan coach identifies areas for improvement

The new head coach of Pakistan wants to make the team a more attacking outfit to get them out of the doldrums.

Waqar Younis was appointed earlier this week and has immediately identified areas in which the players need to improve on their recent poor results against Australia.

They were unable to win either a Test or one day international match during the tour and Younis will be looking for strides to be made ahead of the World Twenty20 competition in April - a tournament they won last time - before the side embarks on a tour of England.

Younis told the BBC Asian Network he wanted to remove divisions within the Pakistan dressing room and create "unity" among the ranks.

"My first target is to get the guys to play a little more aggressively," said the coach.

"It's a young side and the England tour is going to be a real tough one. It's a challenge and I'm really ready to take it."

The appointment of Younis as head coach follows hot on the heels of the announcement that Mohsin Khan would be the new chief selector of the Pakistan national team.

Former selector Iqbal Qasim quit the role after the tour of Australia and Khan's first job will be choosing the squad for the World Twenty20.

The cricket betting makes Pakistan 6/1 shots to defend their title, so they could struggle in the competition.

Meanwhile, in football news, Spain have secured their position as favourites in the World Cup betting markets with a convincing win over France.