LAHORE: In a major development ahead of New Zealand tour and T20I World Cup-2021, Pakistan men's national cricket team head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have stepped down from their respective roles immediately.
Misbah, who had tested positive for Covid-19 at the conclusion of the team's tour of the Caribbean last month and forced to quarantine in Jamaica, cited bio-secure bubbles as the reason behind his decision to quit.
Misbah and Waqar were appointed in September 2019 and still had a year each left in their contracts. With the New Zealand side due to arrive on 11th September for the three ODI and five T20I series and the Pakistan side to assemble in Islamabad on 8th September, the PCB has appointed Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches for the series, with the team management for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to be appointed in due course, a PCB spokesman, said.
Saqlain, Razzaq step in as Misbah, Waqar step down as coaches
Misbah-ul-Haq said: "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."
He said, "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.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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