Misbah, Waqar step down from coaching roles ahead of T20 World Cup

LAHORE: Pakistan’s national cricket team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have stepped down from their respective roles, a month before the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

They communicated their decisions to the Pakistan Cricket Board. Misbah and Waqar were appointed in September 2019 and still had a year each left in their contracts.

The PCB has appointed Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches for the series, with the team management for the T20 World Cup 2021 to be appointed in due course.

Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq cited long periods spent in a bio-secure bubble during matches as the reason for stepping down.

“The quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead. Considering that I would have had to continue to spend considerable time away from my family and that too in a bio-secure environment, I have decided to step down from the role.”

“I understand that the timing may not be ideal but I don’t think I am in the right frame of mind for the upcoming challenges and it makes sense for someone fresh to step in and take the side forward.”

“The past 24 months have been thoroughly enjoyable and I want to thank my team and the management for their support. I wish the Pakistan cricket team best of luck in the upcoming events and will continue to support them every time they will take the field to represent Pakistan.”

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Waqar Younis said: “After Misbah shared with me his decision and future plans, it was a straightforward one for me to resign as we had walked into the roles together, had worked collectively as a pair and now also step down together.”

“Working with the Pakistan bowlers, including the youngsters, has been most satisfying as they have now started to show progress. Bio-secure environments in the past 16 months have had their impact, something we had never experienced during our playing days.

“The next eight months will be busy and exciting for the Pakistan team and, like in the past, I will continue to back and cheer them. I want to thank each and every member of the Pakistan cricket team set-up as we stayed united in good and bad days, and hope there will be more brighter days ahead.”

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said the PCB understands and respects Misbah’s decision. “Cricket in this unprecedented bio-secure world has not been easy for anyone and Misbah has clearly taken into account the intense six months of non-stop cricket ahead,” he said in a statement.

He said both Misbah and Waqar have given so much to Pakistan cricket over a long period of time and deserve a huge amount of respect.

“Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq have been appointed as interim coaches for the New Zealand series. Both Saqlain and Razzaq are ready to step up and are very much looking forward to making important contributions in their coaching roles against New Zealand.”