Former players and applicants, who had applied for various coaching positions advertised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), have expressed their disapproval over PCB Chairman Najam Sethi’s decision to declare Waqar Younis as the next head coach in official capacity.
Sethi had recently stated that he is hoping that the combination of Waqar and Moin Khan as coach and manager respectively will produce better results.
But that has not gone down well with the other hopefuls, who feel that the chairman should not have made such comments before May 5, the application deadline.
“It’s unprofessional that Sethi has taken Waqar’s name for the coaching position before the cut-off date,” one of the applicants told The Express Tribune.
“Sethi has been doing well so far as PCB chairman, but such remarks do not suit him because he is heading an organisation.
“His comments have raised questions on the transparency of the selection process for coaches. If people were to be handpicked, then PCB shouldn’t have advertised for the vacant coaching positions.”
Meanwhile, another candidate stated that it was an open secret that Waqar was the favourite to be made head coach, but Sethi should have waited for a few days before making an announcement.
I did not apply in protest, says Jalaluddin
Former Test cricketer Jalaluddin, who holds the record of achieving the first hat-trick in ODIs, said that he did not apply for any post in protest against the PCB.
The 54-year-old remains one of the most qualified coaches in Pakistan, having the additional experience of the English and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia to his credit.
He has been repeatedly ignored in the past when he applied for the post of National Cricket Academy director, bowling coach for the Pakistan team and for the head coach position.
“For the last several years, the PCB has been channelling favouritism when it comes to appointing people on key posts, which is why I decided not to apply this time around in protest,” Jalal told The Express Tribune.
“Despite being one of the most qualified coaches in Pakistan, I’ve been overlooked several times and people with inferior qualifications have been granted favours. So it’s better to stay away from the process because it is of no use.”
Jalal stressed that a proper policy and criteria should be followed in the selection process of team officials, where short-listed candidates must be called to demonstrate their ideas.
“Recommendation committees can only propose their favourites because they cannot interview qualified people.
“The PCB must short-list candidates and call them for a thorough interview and presentation of plans in order to gauge their knowledges, only then can the selection process be transparent,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2014.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Between courts players ,long past prime,and media.cricket in Pakistan has become a joke.everybody criticizes everything from selection committee to captain. Great players seldom make great coaches or captains. There is an entirely attribute of a great coach. Look at Phil Jackson. An average Nba player but made a legendary basketball coach. Let's look at performance of the recent coaches as a coach but not long lost greatness as a player.
Who is Jalaluddin please? First hat-trick to his credit. Big deal. Otherwise never heard of him. Wasn't he overlooked as a player as well? There must have been a reason.
For change get a batsman as head coach. Waqar would have no impact. Probably better to get Miandad or some other batsman, even Ijaz Ahmed, who was already working as coach for junior team.
@Mirza: @Raz: No doubt Waqar Younis is a great choice for coach but the question is if you are to handpick someone then why bother to advertise. This is ridiculous and should be discouraged. Process should be followed.
Majority if the cricketing fraternity including Pakistanis like Wasim, Latif, Inzi, Abbas, Rameez and etc. believe that Waqar is the right man for the job! So who cares what others think. Waqar is a heavy weight favorite! No one except Mohsin Khan was even in contention. These Jallaluddin or whatever are just trying to get exposure!
Moin Khan is political and cancerous to the team . Sethi doesn't understand management . He is still staying that Waqar and Moin would burbs good combination . No Sir! Moin should just be confined to his role and not interfere in coaching.
very nice commentary by mr. jalaludding. transparency should be valued in selection process.
Waqar deserves this position. He is hard working and most imp, he has developed great work ethics.
Oh waqar younus again as a coach!
Mr. Waqar appointment as coach will raise a question over justice qayum report that is an open book on the faces of corrupt cricketers.
Again, we still remember the role and behaviour of mr.waqar with shoaib akhtar when he announced his retirement and he was not included among final eleven even there was no solid reason to drop him keeping his performance in the tournament. Every person having sense of cricket was surprised to see shoaib sitting back on the bench.
Now, misbah and afridi must get ready for a kick.