Waqar Younis resigns as Pakistan’s Head Coach

Pakistan cricket has been thrown into further disarray after head coach Waqar Younis stepped down from the position. The news comes just a day after Shahid Afridi announced his decision to resign as the T20 skipper.

The two resignations are the outcomes of Pakistan’s dismal performance in the Asia Cup and World T20. Waqar Younis and skipper Shahid Afridi were in the line of fire and faced heavy criticism from PCB, fans, and journalists in the Pakistan.

I am resigning from my post today with a heavy heart,” he told reporters in Lahore.

Referring to a report written in the aftermath of the World Twenty20 in India that was widely leaked in the Pakistani press, he said, “I want my recommendations to be implemented. They were not acted on when I first made them in 2015.”

The 44-year-old took on the job for the second time in 2014, having previously held the post in 2010-11 and has stepped down from position 3 month before the end of his contract.

In his leaked report, Younis criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to not give him a say in the selection process and blasted the captaincy of Shahid Afridi.

“We lost to New Zealand, Asia Cup and the World T20 due to poor captaincy. Over several occasions, I had made it clear that Shahid Afridi was not performing with the bat, ball or as a captain but I was not listened to,” he said.

“I had made a lot of recommendations after the 2015 World Cup, including sending some boys back to first-class cricket for at least a season so they can regain their hunger for the game and rethink their approach and attitude to play for Pakistan, but no recommendation was implemented,” he added.