Furious Waqar blasts PCB for leaking confidential report

Pakistan head coach says Shaharyar Khan, Najam Sethi didn't even have the courtesy to meet him

A furious Waqar Younis on Wednesday expressed dissent against the leaking of a report he presented to Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Fact-Finding committee.

The head coach in his report claimed that Umar Akmal received favours from former team manager Moin Khan and T20I captain Shahid Afridi’s attitude was non-serious during the Asia Cup and World T20.



When asked about the reason for his visit to board's headquarter on Wednesday, an unhappy Waqar said, “I went there to ask Shaharyar Khan why the report was leaked to the media? However, they didn’t even have the courtesy to meet me. I am angry because they were sitting just three doors away and didn’t even have the courage to face me and tell me who leaked the report.”

“First they bother me on email and texts that I should submit the report and when I do, the report is leaked to the media. I want to know how a confidential report was made available to the media?” he lashed out.

Waqar also criticised the involvement of politics in the game. “I cannot understand why there is so much politics in cricket. I think even the level of politics in the Parliament wouldn’t be this high.”



When asked if he knew who would have leaked the report, he said: “I don’t want to name anyone. Everyone knows where the news comes from. Plus, the problem is that all the things were misquoted. They were moulded to sound bad and I am being presented as a villain.”

Moreover, Waqar requested Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to intervene. “I request the premier to look into this matter,” said Waqar. “I will try to get in contact with him. I will tell him that whatever is happening is wrong. We only have one sport that brings happiness to the country and that game is being destroyed too.”

The 44-year-old added that the report of the Fact-Finding committee will be published soon and everyone will know what he actually wrote in his report.



“Let the committee present its report first then I might personally sit down on a channel and read the report word by word,” said an angry Waqar. “We don’t have the custom of listening to someone until and unless he comes out shouting on the media about a problem. I have been trying to solve the in-house problem internally but no one listened to my pleas.”

Waqar concluded with a suggestion that the top management of PCB should be replaced with people who are unbiased.

“People from outside should be brought into the setup,” said Waqar. “They will not have any baggage on their backs. They will not be influenced by phone calls or non-merit recommendations. They can make Pakistan cricket stand back on its feet.”