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Right After World Cup Squad Announcement Misbah And Waqar Resign From Pakistans Coaching Positions

Right after World Cup squad announcement, Misbah and Waqar resign from Pakistan's coaching positions

Just hours after the Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad was announced, the team’s Head coach Misbah-Ul-Haq and Bowling coach Waqar Younis resigned from their posts citing an inability to continue at the post after two years of service. Both Misbah and Waqar were appointed in September 2019 and still had a year each left in their contracts.

To cover for those positions, Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as coaches for the interim measures. The final team management for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 will be appointed in due course.

Announcing his resignation, Misbah said that the quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided him with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead and that made him take the ultimate decision. He also acknowledged that the timing of his decision might not be right or ideal.

“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,” Misbah was quoted as saying in the PCB press release.

Waqar on his part said that there was no choice of him staying in the management after the head coach stepped down as they had signed up for the role together and worked together.

“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,” said the former fast bowler for Pakistan.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said that he was informed about the decision by the different coaches and he respects their decision as well. Further, he informed that both Razzaq and Mushtaq have been successful as coaches at the domestic level and hence they have been tasked with the responsibility.

“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,” he said.

Earlier in the morning of Monday, September 06, Pakistan announced the squad for the T20I World Cup and ignored the seniors like Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

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