India's Virat Kohli role model for Pakistan cricketers: Jones

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones has urged Pakistan cricketers to follow the example of ace Indian batsman Virat Kohli in order to lift their performances at international level.

Kohli has been India’s outstanding performer since making his debut in 2008 and is also considered one of the fittest athletes plying the trade.

“Kohli is the level that the Pakistani cricketers like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq need to get to,” said Jones in an interview to Pakpassion.net.

Jones said that Pakistani cricketers need to take care of their bodies and consider it as "their temple".

“Just look at the example of Virat Kohli. He's lifting 150 kilogram weights. The guy has a body fat of less than 8 per cent," he pointed out.

“I don't believe too many Pakistani cricketers are athletes. They (Pakistanis) should work on their fielding aspects and their attitude to every aspect of their game,” reiterated Jones who was beaten to the Pakistan coaching job by Mickey Arthur.

However, the cricketer-turned commentator was confident that the Pakistan bowlers will dominate in their upcoming four-match Test series against England.

“I think the Pakistani bowlers will do very well but they need the support of the slip fielders and that could be a problem,” he added.

The experience of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan will be a crucial factor for Pakistan in England, according to Jones.

“The Pakistani batsmen will be relying heavily on Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to get the runs and it could be a very interesting series if one of the veterans for Pakistan has a good series with the bat,” he said.

He also shot down suggestions that Misbah, 42, should retire after the England tour.

"Age is just a number. Graham Gooch played for England after he was forty years of age. Misbah's got the body of a twenty-five year old. He's definitely fit enough and good enough to continue playing for Pakistan," said the Islamabad United coach.

Pakistan take on England in the first Test at Lord’s in London from July 14.

They will also play five ODIs and a one-off T20 fixture in the tour which continues till early September.

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