The story behind Courtney Walsh’s rejection and Waqar Younis’ selection as Pakistan’s bowling coach

After Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the 2019 World Cup, the PCB decided to make quite a few changes to the team management. Mickey Arthur, the head coach, Azhar Mahmood, the bowling coach, and Grant Flower, the batting coach, didn’t get extensions and they were freed from their services. The same decisions were made in a board meeting last month in Lahore.

Prior to that even chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq also bid adieu to the national team. A week ago, it was learned that Misbah-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan cricketer, would be performing the dual role of head coach and the chief selector. Waqar Younis, the legendary fast bowler, was appointed as the bowling coach. However, there has been a controversy surrounding the latter’s inclusion.

Courtney Walsh was tried to be contacted at 2 am

The PCB’s lack of seriousness in conducting the interview has come to the fore as per reports in The International News. Along with Waqar, the great Courtney Walsh also applied for the position. If reports are to be believed then a board representative called Walsh’s agent at around 2:00 am at night without realising that it was at the middle of the night in the Caribbean Islands.

The agent told the representative to call in the next morning and set a date for the interview. However, the PCB didn’t wait for him. In fact, by the next day, the cricket board had already made up its mind in favour of the 47-year-old Waqar. Reports further added that Younis was aware of the fact and that’s the reason why he travelled from Sydney to Lahore along with his family.

Sources told that when the five-member selection panel was reviewing the candidature for the post of the bowling coach, only Waqar’s name was on the list. The Burewala Express managed to bag the deal for a rumoured monthly wage of Rs 2 million. A number of former players have bemoaned the PCB’s interview procedure, claiming that the entire process was staged for a mere formality.

As far as action on the field is concerned, Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a three ODIs and as many T20Is at the National Stadium in Karachi and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The fixtures get underway with the One Dayers, set to start on Friday, September 27.

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