Pakistan’s bowling coach Waqar Younis is all set to miss the second Test against New Zealand

Pakistan cricket team is currently involved in a three-match T20I series against New Zealand and is scheduled to face the Black Caps in the two-match Test series, starting from December 26 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. However, the Men in Green will be without the services of their bowling coach Waqar Younis in the second Test starting from January 3 in Christchurch.

It is learned that the former cricketer will be heading back to Pakistan after the first Test against New Zealand ends at Mount Maunganui on December 30. Younis has been granted permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to fly back home to spend some quality time with his family.

Notably, Younis had not seen his family since July 2020 owing to his travel with the Pakistan team and the quarantine rules due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. His family will be in Lahore before they leave for Australia on January 17. Thus, the veteran pacer will be joining the national side in time for the home series against South Africa, which starts with the first Test in Karachi on January 26.

PCB released an official statement where they revealed that Waqar has been granted leave to spend some time with his immediate family. “Waqar had requested the team management to be granted leave so that he can spend additional time with his immediate family, which will be in Lahore before returning to Sydney, Australia, on 17 January,” PCB said in a media release.

For all of us families always come first: Pakistan Team Manager

Pakistan team manager Mansoor Rana also opined on this saying that families come first and there is no harm in taking a break for a few days to achieve a perfect work-life balance. Also, the South Africa series will run till February 14, thus Younis has been granted some extra time to be with his wife and children.

“Considering Waqar has not seen his family since June and that our home series against South Africa, which follows the series against New Zealand, doesn’t finish until 14 February, we … have allowed him to return home early so that he can spend additional time with his wife and children,” Pakistan manager Mansoor Rana said.

“If he (Younis) had returned to Lahore with the side after the second test, he would have only got a week to spend with them. For all of us, families always come first and we have in the past made similar exemptions so that our team members are able to achieve the correct work-life balance,” he added.