Pakistan appoints Misbah-ul-Haq as chief selector and coach

Former pacer and captain Waqar Younis back as bowling coach; both the candidates have been handed a three-year contract.

Misbah-ul-Haq was preferred to Mohsin Khan and Dean Jones for the head coach role in Pakistan cricket team.

 

Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been named Pakistan chief selector and coach on Wednesday. Veteran fast bowler Waqar Younis, who served in various coaching roles in the past, is the new bowling coach.

Both the candidates have been handed a three-year contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Initially, Misbah wasn’t sure of the national team role as it clashed with an offer from Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United; but he applied a few hours before the deadline. He was preferred to Mohsin Khan and former Australia cricketer Dean Jones.

This will also be Waqar’s fifth term with Pakistan.

Earlier, he has served as bowling coach in 2006-07, bowling and fielding coach for a short burst in 2009-10, head coach in 2010-11 and 2014-15 to 2016 till the ICC World Twenty20.

READ| PCB to announce new team management next week; Misbah, Waqar frontrunners

The duo will be replacing Azhar Mahmood (ex-bowling coach) and Mickey Arthur (previous head coach) who were released after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Interestingly, Misbah was part of the Pakistan cricket committee that had reviewed Arthur’s performance.

Former cricketers Intikhab Alam and Bazid Khan, Asad Ali Khan (governing board member), Wasim Khan (chief executive of PCB) and Zakir Khan (director, international cricket) had formed a five-member panel to conduct the recruitment process.

The panel interviewed the candidates and submitted their recommendations to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani.

"I know expectations are high, but I am absolutely ready and up for the task otherwise I would not have thrown my name in the hat for one of the most challenging and coveted roles in Pakistan cricket.

"We have some of the most talented and exciting cricketers, and I will like to help them train and prepare in such a way that they can play intelligently, smartly and fearlessly. I am aware this will require a change in the dressing room culture but if we have to compete consistently at the highest level, we have to embrace these modern day requirements," Misbah revealed his plans.

"I am excited to once again have someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Waqar Younis in my corner as a bowling coach. We have exciting young fast bowlers in our ranks and there is no better person than Waqar to transform them into modern day stars," he added.