Pakistan men’s cricket team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have decided to step down from their respective roles, the PCB stated on Monday, 6 September.
Former Pakistan stars Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq have been named as interim coaches for the upcoming New Zealand series, which is set to begin on 17 September with the ODIs before the tour moves to Lahore for five T20Is.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have said that the management team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be announced in due course.
Misbah, in a statement, put his decision down to having to spend considerable time away from his family, and living in bio-secure bubbles. “The quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead,” he said.
“Considering that I would have had to continue to spend considerable time away from my family and that too in a bio-secure environment, I have decided to step down from the role.
“I understand that the timing may not be ideal, but I don’t think I am in the right frame of mind for the upcoming challenges and it makes sense for someone fresh to step in and take the side forward.
“The past 24 months have been thoroughly enjoyable and I want to thank my team and the management for their support. I wish the Pakistan cricket team best of luck in the upcoming events and will continue to support them every time they will take the field to represent Pakistan.”
Waqar Younis, who was appointed as the bowling coach in 2019 and had a year left on his contract, decided to tender his resignation to the PCB in the wake of Misbah’s decision.
“After Misbah shared with me his decision and future plans, it was a straightforward one for me to resign as we had walked into the roles together, had worked collectively as a pair, and now also step down together,” said Younis.
“Working with the Pakistan bowlers, including the youngsters, has been most satisfying as they have now started to show progress. Bio-secure environments in the past 16 months have had their impact, something we had never experienced during our playing days.
“The next eight months will be busy and exciting for the Pakistan team and, like in the past, I will continue to back and cheer them. I want to thank each and every member of the Pakistan cricket team set-up as we stayed united in good and bad days, and hope there will be brighter days ahead.”
Their decision to resign comes a few hours after Pakistan named their 15-member squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. (ICC)
