'He didn't have even club level experience' - Mohammad Yousuf slams PCB for appointing Misbah-ul-Haq the head coach

Mohammad Yousuf is one of the best batsmen who has played for Pakistan. He averaged above 50 after played 90 Tests while he was great middle-order batsman in the one-day format as well. Since his retirement, Yousuf has worn the hat of an expert quite a few times and given his honest views on the game. It does seem that the PCB’s decision to make Misbah-ul-Haq the head coach hasn’t gone down too well with him.

Mohammad Yousuf criticised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making Misbah-ul-Haq the head coach even though he had no experience in that field. Yousuf then also questioned the board’s move to allow the former captain to coach a PSL team this season. Misbah coached Islamabad United in the PSL 2020 and many had raised eyebrows over the same.

“I don’t understand these double standards of the board. All one hand, they are asking for all coaching qualifications and yet they made Misbah head coach, although he had no prior experience of coaching even at club level. Appointing Misbah, who has no coaching skills was tantamount to making a mockery of merit. Another mockery was allowing him to coach in PSL so that he could gain coaching experience,” Yousuf was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Azhar Ali was a better player than Misbah in terms of ability, says Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf then went on to accuse Misbah for not picking the current Test captain Azhar Ali in the ODI squad when he was captain. “I saw recent media interaction of Misbah and he was talking about honesty and integrity and all that. Yet when he was captain he never allowed Azhar Ali to come into the one-day squad,” Yousuf said.

Between 2013 and 2015, Azhar Ali didn’t get an opportunity to play in the ODI squad. Misbah was the Pakistan captain then and the 45-year-old alleged that he never favoured Azhar. It was only after Misbah’s retirement from the one-day format, that the opener made a comeback. Yousuf also felt that Azhar Ali was a better batsman skill-wise in comparison to Misbah.

The former Pakistan batsman pointed out that Misbah play slowly in white-ball cricket and his style was similar to that of Azhar, which led him to not allow the latter to come into the ODI squad. He also bashed Misbah’s batting skills calling him a one-dimensional player.

“In my view, Azhar was a better batsman skill-wise and in terms of ability. Because he had to play as an opener or one down and he took his time to settle down, Misbah didn’t want him because he himself took time to settle down and played slowly. He had no skills. He had a one-dimensional game and he played defensively most of the time and only took his chances when spinners came on,” Yousuf added.