Sabih Azhar to replace sacked Basit Ali as women’s team coach: PCB official

Rawalpindi coach to be named by PCB within few days

KARACHI: Rawalpindi coach Sabih Azhar is expected to replace Basit Ali as head coach of Pakistan Women after the latter was sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, a PCB official revealed on Tuesday.

“Azhar has coached Rawalpindi for a long time and has the potential to do good for the women’s team. The chiefs are considering his name and will decide soon," said the PCB official.

The women’s cricket team is currently preparing for the 2017 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to begin in February, at a training camp and are being monitored and trained by the video analysts and physical trainers till the appointment of a new coach.

"After Basit's removal, the physical trainer Iqbal Imam is training the girls while they are also playing local matches at the National Stadium in Karachi," manager of the women’s team Ayesha Ashar told The Express Tribune. "The video analyst is supporting Imam till the next coach is appointed by the PCB."

Basit on Monday was relieved of his duties as the head of junior selection committee and head coach of women’s cricket team following an alleged brawl between him and Mahmood Hamid over his comments during a television show.