Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis resigned yesterday, citing personal reasons, in the latest setback to hit the troubled team that have been riven by infighting and corruption scandals.
“I have tendered my resignation to the [Pakistan Cricket] Board [PCB] last week and the tour to Zimbabwe will be my last,” Waqar, at the helm for less than 18 months, told a press conference ahead of this month’s tour to the African country.
The 39-year-old former fast bowler took over as coach in March last year, but has since faced controversies including the spot-fixing scandal that led to lengthy bans for three cricketers, dissent from players and differences with former one-day captain Shahid Afridi.
Photo: Reuters
“I have taken this decision on personal grounds, including medical grounds, and have no differences with anyone. My resignation has been accepted by the board,” Waqar said.
Pakistan plays one practice game, one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the tour of Zimbabwe, which starts next Sunday.
Waqar’s differences with Afridi surfaced during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies in May, after which manager Intikhab Alam blamed both of them for creating problems within the team.
Afridi retired from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain in June, saying he would not return as long as Ijaz Butt remained the chairman of the PCB and Waqar was coach.
Waqar was also reportedly unhappy with chief selector Mohsin Khan.
However, the former fast bowler said yesterday that he had no complaints.
“Had everything in my personal life — that is, my wife’s health and my own — been all right, I would not have taken this decision, but I do not want to fail to do the job justice because of the personal problems on my mind,” Waqar said.
Waqar, under whom Pakistan qualified for the semi-final of the World Cup in March before losing to eventual champions India, called his time a the helm a “roller coaster.”
“It was a roller coaster for me, with a lot of controversies including the spot-fixing scandal, but I am proud of the fact that all these young boys have carried on the good work despite these problems,” he said.
His first two Test series as coach — against Australia and England, both played in England last year — saw Test captain Salman Butt and key pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir caught up in the spot-fixing scandal.
The corruption claims over the Test against England at Lord’s in August last year resulted in lengthy bans for Butt, Asif and Amir, and the trio also faces criminal proceedings in England.
Waqar said the players had been shocked by his decision to quit.
“I only told the players on Saturday morning and they were shocked because until today the matter was between me and the PCB, but I am sure that this young team will do well in future,” Waqar said.
“The PCB has accepted his resignation and understands his personal reasons. His tenure was good and we wish him the best in his future,” PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said.
Waqar’s resignation is the latest headache to hit the troubled national team, which will have to find another suitable coach before their October-November series against Sri Lanka.
This will be followed by a tour of Bangladesh and a series against world No. 1 Test team England early next year.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care