Sending a message: No place for players with wrong attitude, says Waqar

Head coach believes new players have the potential to deliver .

KARACHI:

Head coach Waqar Younis, known for his toe-crushing yorkers from his playing days, has taken a similar no-nonsense approach and said that the national team does not need players who do not play with the right attitude and passion.

While Waqar stayed in Australia after the World Cup, he sent a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), outlining his reservations and recommended changes which were required to transform Pakistan into a side that can consistently challenge the top sides in the world.



As it often happens, the report was leaked and what should have been discussed behind closed doors in the PCB headquarters became a national debate as to whether Waqar was right to get rid of Ahmed Shehzad due to behavioural issues. The head coach had urged the PCB to remove both Shehzad and Umar Akmal from the team for at least a year.

“It is surprising for me that my report has been leaked but I had written about my reservations to the PCB, which they have seen and have implemented a few things,” Waqar told reporters in Lahore during a practice match ahead of the tour of Bangladesh, in what was his first interaction with the media after the World Cup.

“The important thing for Pakistan is to have the players with the right attitude. If that attitude is not there, then there is no need for such players in the Pakistan team,” said Waqar, before adding that the team needs to work on their fielding and fitness. “Players need to be fitter and fielding needs to be improved, otherwise we would lag behind. I am happy that the PCB has taken a step in that direction.”

There were reports of words being exchanged between Waqar and Shehzad while the 43-year-old was also not happy with Umar for batting for long hours in the nets but doing nothing in the middle.

After changes in the setup, Waqar has emerged as the strongest person in the side with senior members Misbahul Haq and Shahid Afridi having retired from ODIs, while Moin Khan, who was working as touring selection committee head, was also sacked by the board.

New faces

As per Waqar’s wish, Shehzad has already been dropped from ODIs and Test squad for the tour of Bangladesh.

New players have been brought in, with the likes of Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Saad Nasim all set to feature in the upcoming series.

“This is a new era for Pakistan cricket as new players have been brought in and I’m hopeful that they will serve Pakistan well in the upcoming years,” added Waqar. “The talent is there and it’s all about getting the opportunity. Hopefully they will now avail their chance.”

However, the former pacer does not believe that he needs to put pressure on the young squad to deliver as they just need to channel their potential to emerge victorious. “It’s a tough series with Bangladesh because they have improved a lot and they cannot be taken lightly,” he said. “We’ve got a new side with fresh faces but I feel these players are capable of getting the job done.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th,  2015.

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