KARACHI: Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis resigned on Saturday, citing personal reasons, but said he would continue in his job through this month’s tour of Zimbabwe.
“I have tendered my resignation to the Board last week and the tour to Zimbabwe will be my last,” Waqar Younis told a press conference, barely a week before the national team’s departure for the African country.
The 39-year-old former fast bowler took over as coach in March 2010, 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.
“I have taken this decision on personal grounds, including medical grounds, and have no differences with anyone and my resignation has been accepted by the (Pakistan Cricket) Board,” said Waqar.
The Official Historian of Pakistan Crciket Dr Nauman Niaz said that Younis was a headstrong man who would judicially ask for his rights.
He said:
During Pakistan’s tour of England, Ijaz Ahmed was made the assistant coach and we had had a fiasco and three of our cricketers – Muhammad Aamir, Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif – were charged of spot-fixing and later on banned from playing international cricket. Now again Ahmed was being appointed as an assistant coach, which is probably what pushed Younis to resign.
Niaz further exclaimed that there is “no future of Pakistan cricket if people like Ejaz Butt retain their positions”.
He also said that the power revolves around the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and that Butt is not in favour of people who stand up for their rights.
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.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/235759/waqar-younis-resigns-for-personal-reasons/
