Waqar Younis, who will begin his stint as head coach in June, stated that his immediate target would be to prepare the team for next year’s ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former captain Waqar Younis for his second stint as the head coach of the Pakistan national team on a two-year contract.
The PCB coach hunt committee, led by chief selector and manager Moin Khan, along with members Intikhab Alam (Domestic Cricket Operations director) and Haroon Rashid (Game Development director), met on Tuesday to review the applications received for the position.
The committee unanimously recommended Waqar for the job; the decision was endorsed by PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.
The 42-year-old, who has represented Pakistan in 87 Tests and 262 ODIs, stated that his immediate target would be to prepare the team for next year’s International Cricket Council ODI World Cup.
“I am extremely pleased to have been selected as head coach,” said Waqar, who is currently in India for an Indian Premier League (IPL) assignment.
“My immediate aim is to prepare the team for the upcoming cricket season including next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”
The PCB confirmed that Waqar will be joining from the month of June but did not announce any names for the different coaching positions.
Mixed reactions among players
The senior players, who were busy on the opening day of the national team’s summer training camp, have welcomed the announcement of Waqar as coach.
Most of them feel that he is a good choice and has the ability to strengthen Pakistan for the future.
“There are good and bad things about all individuals,” one of the senior players of the national team told The Express Tribune.
“Waqar is a good choice because he has played top cricket and understands the game really well. His knowledge will be of great benefit for the team while his aggressive nature will allow the players to express themselves on the field.
“We must look at the positive side of the coach. There are people who might have issues with him because Waqar has his own ego as he was the star cricketer of his generation. Previously, it was his ego that made the players revolt against him. If he can put aside his sense of self, he’ll be a wonderful coach to work with and can certainly take Pakistan to new heights.”
Meanwhile, another player added that it remains to be seen whether Waqar will treat the seniors and youngsters equally, unlike the past, where his attitude was different towards some players.
Aggrieved Mohsin to stage press conference
Another former player and successful coach of his time, Mohsin Khan, vowed to hold a press conference in the coming days in relation to the appointment of Waqar.
“I can only say that I’ll be holding a press conference in a day or two over the process of how Waqar has been appointed,” he said. “I feel that things have not been done the right way and a process was not followed.”
Meanwhile, the PCB chairman and other senior officials were unavailable for further comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2014.
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He is probably the best candidate to coach the national side and more importantly improve the fast bowling of the side once know for its fierce fast bowlers.
From 2003 to 2006, Pakistan's fast bowlers averaged 34.8 in Tests and 32.5 (at econ 4.9) in ODIs, despite the best efforts of Shoaib Akhtar. In March of 2006, Waqar was appointed the bowling coach, and under him those numbers fell to 32.3 and 28.8 (at econ 4.6), despite Shoaib not playing a single Test under him.
Mohsin Khan is known for only two things in his life. First him being an actor and the second being a crybaby. He complains all the time, I dont know why he doesent just pack his bags and stop trying to get the coach job when he does not have the qualifications and no one wants him.