The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed a four-member committee to hire a new coach for the national team following the resignation of Waqar Younis with former team manager Intikhab Alam holding complete authority. “The PCB has constituted a committee to look for a new coach,” said a brief PCB statement. Waqar Younis submitted his resignation to the PCB prior to his departure for Zimbabwe, citing health reasons for quitting the post after the trip to the African country.
The committee will be headed by former Pakistan captain, manager and coach, Intikhab Alam, and includes former Pakistan Test captain Zaheer Abbas and former wicketkeeper batsman Col (r) Naushad Ali as its members. Another former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has consented to assist the committee in selecting the coach.
Talking to journalists, Ramiz said: “When it’s about the future of Pakistan cricket and some important decisions are to be taken, I as a former cricketer and CEO of the PCB, am always there for the positive contribution for the country. It would be tough to list out the best of the coaches because the opinion is divided whether to bring a Pakistani coach or a foreign but both have their advantages and disadvantages.
The experiment with Waqar Younis as coach was quite successful. It would be ideal if anyone in the country could replace him with the abilities, eligibility and the high stature. There is in fact the need of a person who could command the dressing room with his presence. But if not, then someone from outside the country can come and understand our traditions, our cricket and our board,” he maintained. The committee will start working after the Eid holidays. The PCB also said in its statement on Monday that the committee would look for coaches both from within and outside Pakistan and would start its work next week.
