Azhar Mahmood should be sacked as head coach: Sallu

‘The all-rounder’s last tenure with Pak team in 2016 was also a failure and he has no talent for coaching’

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Cricket Board has made a blunder in appointing a mediocre player like Azhar Mahmood as the head coach of the national team and his inability to motivate the team is evident from the recent defeats at the hands of a depleted New Zealand team which is playing without its top players.

This was stated by former Chief Selector and Test cricketer Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu while speaking exclusively to The Express Tribune here on Friday.

“I want to know what are Azhar’s credentials to merit such a key post, and that too ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup?” asked Sallu.

“Azhar’s last tenure with the Pakistan team in 2016 was also a failure and he should be removed sooner than later and be replaced by competent people like Rashid Latif as head coach.”

Sallu said it was not just an embarrassment to lose to a very inexperienced New Zealand side “on our home grounds but is also a morale-shattering experience for our players who have tough assignment ahead.”

“This New Zealand side is playing without stalwarts such as Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner and a few others and still they have beaten us,” lamented Sallu.

“The PCB should immediately take steps to redress the problems afflicting the team and must replace Azhar Mahmood as head coach because he is just not the right man for this vital job and does not have the talent for coaching.”

Sallu pointed out that the Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United also sacked Azhar Mahmood last year and replaced him with Mike Hesson.

The former chief selector, who held the aforementioned position for a world record ten times during his career, said he was looking forward to South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and Australia’s Jason Gillespie to join as Pakistan’s coaches for the T20 World Cup

“I am excited about this news because both Kirsten and Gillespie are very professional players and their approach and method of coaching will surely uplift Pakistan’s team’s graph and players’ morale.”

“In the end, I wish our team the very best in the upcoming World Cup,” concluded Sallu.