Misbah-ul-Haq denies being approached by PCB for head coach role

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has denied reports of being approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the role of the national team’s coaching job once again. Notably, Misbah served as the head coach of Pakistan from 2019-2021.

The 49-year-old stepped down from the role just ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE, after a fallout with the-then PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. Meanwhile, commenting on the reports, the former Pakistan skipper denied being contacted by the PCB for the role and said that he will look into it once he is formally contacted.

"I have not been contacted by PCB as of yet. When they will contact me, then I will see. I already have a lot of prior commitments, whether it is with leagues or with Television channels. It won’t be easy to immediately to take up a role with the Pakistan team. I will have to see what role will be offered and whether I would be able to do it or no," Misbah was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Misbah, who was the 30th head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, also served as the chief selector between 2019-20. He replaced the current Team Director Mickey Arthur as head coach in 2019.   Notably, Misbah represented Pakistan in 75 Tests, 162 ODIs and 39 T20Is. He was a part of Pakistan’s victorious campaign in the 2009 T20 World Cup. Misbah even led Pakistan to the number one rank in Test cricket in 2016 under his captaincy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series from July 16 at Galle International Stadium. The series will mark the beginning of the World Test Championship cycle 2023-25 for both the sides. After the Test series ends, the Babar Azam-led side will shift their focus on the Asia Cup 2023 to prepare for the all-important World Cup 2023 in India October-November.