Coaches resign after Pakistan declares squad for T20WC

Pakistan cricket head coach Misbah-ul-Haq resigned Monday, citing family concerns and bio-bubble restrictions in a move that leaves team preparations for next month’s World Cup in tatters.

The 47-year-old, who took over as head coach in September 2019, said he had made the decision while undergoing mandatory quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 following Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies last week.

“The quarantine time provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months, future commitments and bio-bubble environment and on considering that I made the decision,” Misbah said in a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Misbah admitted the timing of his decision -- which came as Pakistan named a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates next month -- “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,” he said.

Bowling coach Waqar Younis also resigned Monday, saying Misbah’s decision had prompted him to step down.

“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,” Waqar, a legendary former fast bowler, was quoted as saying in the PCB release.

PCB said former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and allrounder Abdul Razzaq will act as interim coaches for the series against New Zealand starting later this month.

Meanwhile, selectors declared the team for upcoming T20 World Cup and the series against New Zealand and England where they overlooked Shoaib Malik along with Sarfaraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Sharjeel Khan

Chief selector Mohammad Wasim said specialists were preferred,

“We have focused on specialist T20 players and have considered the situation of the venues and our oppositions in the event,” Wasim said at a press conference in Lahore.

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Azam Khan, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood.

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.