Cricket: Former players term Waqar’s stint successful
Head coach’s tenure comes to an end as tour concludes.
KARACHI:
With the conclusion of the sucessful Zimbabwe tour, Waqar Younis’ tenure as Pakistan coach has come to an end as former players and team management hail the performance of the former captain.
Former team manager Intikhab Alam, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee formed to find Waqar’s replacement, has given a thumbs-up to the former fast-bowler’s performance and termed his tenure a successful one.
Former chief selector Abdul Qadir hoped Waqar could serve Pakistan cricket in the future while former captain Aamir Sohail believed that controversies came in his way to do better.
Waqar, who took over as head coach in March 2010 after Pakistan’s win-less Australia tour, announced before that he would quit the post after the Zimbabwe series citing health reasons.
During his 18-month stint, his first as head coach, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, won a Test and One-Day International series against hosts New Zealand, clinched the ODI series against West Indies and Ireland before whitewashing Zimbabwe.
However, Waqar’s term was filled with controversies, first by the spot-fixing scandal in England before reports of rifts between him and former captain Shahid Afridi resulted in the retirement of the all-rounder. A heavy loss to England in the Test series also tarnished an otherwise impressive show by Pakistan.
Waqar’s exit to affect continuity: Alam
Alam, who was replaced by Waqar, felt the 39-year-old did a good job given the amount of young blood in the team.
“He did a good job,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “It’s a demanding job and Waqar handled it well.
“The team started showing progress and his exit will affect continuity.”
‘Lack of coaching experience may have created issues’
Meanwhile, Qadir said that Waqar’s lack of coaching experience may have raised issues linked to team management.
“I know Waqar as a sincere and hard working person,” said Qadir. “He has given huge services to Pakistan as a cricketer and coach.
“But I believe his issue with Afridi was just because of his lack of experience as coach,” said the former leg-spinner.
He could have done much better: Sohail
However, Sohail felt his time with the team could have been more fruitful. “His service as a coach was relatively better,” said Sohail. “But to me he failed as per expectations because he was a legendary cricketer.
“This may have happened because he was based abroad or issues within the team management hampered his performance.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.
With the conclusion of the sucessful Zimbabwe tour, Waqar Younis’ tenure as Pakistan coach has come to an end as former players and team management hail the performance of the former captain.
Former team manager Intikhab Alam, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee formed to find Waqar’s replacement, has given a thumbs-up to the former fast-bowler’s performance and termed his tenure a successful one.
Former chief selector Abdul Qadir hoped Waqar could serve Pakistan cricket in the future while former captain Aamir Sohail believed that controversies came in his way to do better.
Waqar, who took over as head coach in March 2010 after Pakistan’s win-less Australia tour, announced before that he would quit the post after the Zimbabwe series citing health reasons.
During his 18-month stint, his first as head coach, Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, won a Test and One-Day International series against hosts New Zealand, clinched the ODI series against West Indies and Ireland before whitewashing Zimbabwe.
However, Waqar’s term was filled with controversies, first by the spot-fixing scandal in England before reports of rifts between him and former captain Shahid Afridi resulted in the retirement of the all-rounder. A heavy loss to England in the Test series also tarnished an otherwise impressive show by Pakistan.
Waqar’s exit to affect continuity: Alam
Alam, who was replaced by Waqar, felt the 39-year-old did a good job given the amount of young blood in the team.
“He did a good job,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “It’s a demanding job and Waqar handled it well.
“The team started showing progress and his exit will affect continuity.”
‘Lack of coaching experience may have created issues’
Meanwhile, Qadir said that Waqar’s lack of coaching experience may have raised issues linked to team management.
“I know Waqar as a sincere and hard working person,” said Qadir. “He has given huge services to Pakistan as a cricketer and coach.
“But I believe his issue with Afridi was just because of his lack of experience as coach,” said the former leg-spinner.
He could have done much better: Sohail
However, Sohail felt his time with the team could have been more fruitful. “His service as a coach was relatively better,” said Sohail. “But to me he failed as per expectations because he was a legendary cricketer.
“This may have happened because he was based abroad or issues within the team management hampered his performance.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.