Waqar Younis has stepped aside as the chief coach of the Pakistan cricket team and announced his decision on Saturday. Talking to journalists here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Younis said he has resigned as the coach and will leave after Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe. He said that he will not be available for the job after the Zimbabwe series and cited personal reasons as the case for resignation.
Younis said he had no differences with anyone and his decision to resign was due to medical reasons. Younis was appointed coach on March 3, 2010. He was Pakistan’s coach during the controversial tour of England during which cricketers Mohammed Aamir, Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif were found to be involved in spot-fixing. “I tendered my resignation to the Board last week and the tour to Zimbabwe will be my last,” Younis added.
The announcement came just over a week before the national team’s departure for the African country. Since taking over the job, Waqar faced several controversies including differences with former captain Shahid Afridi during the West Indies tour. Before that, wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled to London while Pakistan was involved in a series against South Africa in the UAE. Prior to the World Cup, where his team reached the semi-final, Waqar oversaw a successful tour of New Zealand, where Pakistan won both the Test and ODI series. “I have taken this decision on personal grounds and have no differences with anyone and my resignation has been accepted by the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said Waqar. No reply from the PCB was made as yet and no replacement has been announced so far. Pakistan plays one practice game, one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the tour of Zimbabwe which starts on August 28. The team will leave for Zimbabwe on August 25.
Waqar resigns as Pakistan chief coach
