Pakistan great Wasim Akram opens up on issue of foreign coaches refusing to come to Pakistan

Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram opined on the issue of foreign coaches refusing to come to Pakistan. After the takeover of the role of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief by Najam Sethi, the management has seen an overhaul of some sort.

While the office-bearers of the previous committee were shown the exit doors, a new selection panel led by Shahid Afridi was appointed. Adding to this, the PCB chief was keen to reinstate Mickey Arthur as the coach of the national side. However, as per multiple reports, due to the ‘unreliable environment in Pakistan cricket,’ Arthur has decided to take a pass on the role.

Wasim Akram voiced his opinion on the issue and stated that the side requires the services of a Pakistan-born coach instead of foreign coaches. 

"If you had asked me, I would have told you that foreign coaches will not come; everyone is afraid that the contract will also end if the board changes. If you are not getting a foreign coach, get the services of a Pakistan coach,” Akram was quoted as saying by Pakistan Cricket.

Mickey Arthur rejects approach from Pakistan Cricket, to stay with Derbyshire

The 54-year-old, who is the head of cricket at Derbyshire, was apprehensive about coming to Pakistan and taking up the role that he had once succeeded in. A source confirmed that even if he had decided to end terms with Derbyshire, there was no guarantee that his contract would be honoured given the present scenario in the PCB.

"Arthur told Sethi that the PCB management led by Ehsan Mani during the World Cup in 2019 had assured him his contract would be extended. But after Pakistan didn't make the semi-finals despite winning four matches on a trot, his contract was not honoured,” a source told PTI.

“He also had apprehensions that even if he ended his long-term contract with Derbyshire with mutual agreement and decided to come to Pakistan there was no guarantee his contract would be honoured given the environment in Pakistan cricket,” the source added.