Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and skipper Shahid Afridi are on collision course after it was revealed that Afridi isn’t too happy with Waqar’s interference in selection matters.
Afridi is so upset with Waqar’s behaviour that he was reluctant to play the last two ODIs against the West Indies and was persuaded by manager Intikhab Alam to lead the team.
Pakistan lost both the matches but still managed to win the series 3-2.
Sources aware of developments in the team also disclosed that Afridi had even left the team meeting held before the fifth and final ODI match because of his differences with the coach.
“It was Intikhab who spoke with Afridi and told him that being the team captain it was his duty to play if fit and that if he had any grievances he should discuss it with the board on returning home.”
“Not only Afridi, but it appears some of the other senior players are apparently not happy with the way Waqar is handling things in the team and particularly his role in selection matters,” a source revealed.
Interestingly the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also had to hold a meeting with chief selector Mohsin Khan on Thursday to convince him to not resign after Mohsin Khan blamed Waqar for interfering in the matters of the national selection committee.
Mohsin had made his displeasure clear when the PCB changed the squad for the tests in the West Indies submitted by the national selectors on the insistence of Waqar Younis.
“Waqar apparently has rubbed Afridi and some of the other players the wrong way with his growing control and authority in the team.”
“He and Afridi have had differences on the tour over selection matters and these issues date back to the World Cup as well,” the source added.
