Waqar Younis resigns for personal reasons

Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis resigned on Saturday, citing personal reasons, but said he would continue in his job through this month’s tour of Zimbabwe.

“I have tendered my resignation to the Board last week and the tour to Zimbabwe will be my last,” Waqar Younis told a press conference, barely a week before the national team’s departure for the African country.

The 39-year-old former fast bowler took over as coach in March 2010, but has since faced controversies including the spot-fixing scandal that led to lengthy bans for three cricketers, dissent from players and differences with former one-day captain Shahid Afridi.

“I have taken this decision on personal grounds, including medical grounds, and have no differences with anyone and my resignation has been accepted by the (Pakistan Cricket) Board,” said Waqar.

Talking to Express 24/7, the Official Historian of Pakistan Cricket Dr Nauman Niaz said that Younis is a headstrong man who would judicially ask for his rights.

He said:

During Pakistan’s tour of England, Ijaz Ahmed was made the assistant coach and we had had a fiasco and three of our cricketers – Muhammad Aamir, Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif – were charged of spot-fixing and later on banned from playing international cricket. Now again Ahmed was being appointed as an assistant coach, which is probably what pushed Younis to resign.

Niaz further exclaimed that there is “no future of Pakistan cricket if people like Ejaz Butt retain their positions”.

He also said that the power revolves around the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and that Butt is not in favour of people who stand up for their rights.

Pakistan plays one practice game, one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches on the tour of Zimbabwe which starts on August 28.

News No conspiracy theory behind Waqar's resignation: PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board today made it clear that Waqar Younis' resignation as head coach of the national team has nothing to do with the recent sacking of the support staff but was a personal decision related to family and health reasons. In a surprise development, Waqar today announced

at a press conference that he will quit the post at the end of the Zimbabwe tour. PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed said that Waqar had informed Board Chairman Ijaz Butt about his decision some days back and there was "no conspiracy theory behind his resignation".
"The reason we told him to announce his resignation at a press conference was to clear the situation and dispel any impressions there might be other reasons for his resignation," Ahmed told PTI.
Ahmad said Waqar had informed Butt 10 days back that he was facing some family and health issues and he had been away from home for long time. "We understand his position and we are really thankful to him that he agreed to continue for the Zimbabwe tour. We would have liked him to continue as coach and fulfill his contract but he has his personal reasons for his decision," the PCB official stated. Ahmad clarified that the recent changes in the team management had nothing to do with Waqar's decision.

Greg Chappel spoilt my Career - Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain, 'God of the off side' Sourav Ganguly looked thrilled over the Cricket Australia's decission to sack Greg Chappell as Australia's National Talent Manager.

Sourav Ganguly who was one of the most successful captains of India was asked to step down during Chappell's reign as the Coach of Indian National Cricket team, which also led to an unfortunate early end to Ganguly's glorious career.

Team India who were the runners up in the 2003 World cup before Greg Chappell took over as the coach did not have a good record as Team India had the disastrous early end in the first round of 2007 World cup.

Greg Chapell is not always far away from Controversies. He has been accused of telling his brother to bowl the 'infamous' underarm delivery in a match against New Zealand, which was against the spirit of the game.

'The Prince of Kolkata' felt justice had been done for all the tough times and insecurities he had to go through. "Now, people will know who was right and who was wrong."

Ganguly also expressed sympathy towards his former coach. "He's such a big cricketer... a big name... it's very unfortunate," - Ganguly told MiD DAY.

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PCB clears Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik has been cleared by the PCB's integrity committee and is now eligible for selection for the national team. Malik has not played for the national side since the controversy-filled tour of England last summer, and has been involved in a long-drawn out battle with the PCB to be cleared. He was named a reserve player for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, but the PCB have not yet announced whether he will be included in the main squad now that he has been cleared.

The main issue blocking Malik's clearance was certain deposits in his overseas bank account, but the PCB has said in their release announcing Malik's clearance that he was able to provide evidence that the deposits did not emanate from any questionable source or activity.

Malik first met the integrity committee in January this year, along with Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal, but was not cleared and missed out on the World Cup. He met the committee again on August 15, and, after a meeting of the committee on August 19, has been cleared. The August 19 meeting was attended by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and the board's legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi among others. They came to the joint decision that there was no incriminating material suggesting the deposits in Malik's accounts were related to dubious activities.

"Shoaib Malik was directed to provide complete information supported with relevant documents regarding the source of the said deposits which he did provide," the PCB statement said. "The committee reviewed all the material in detail and also verified the veracity of the said information from relevant authorities.The integrity committee after detailed deliberations has unanimously reached the conclusion that prima facie Shoaib Malik has been able to establish that the said deposits in this overseas account did not emanate from any questionable source or activity."

Though he was not cleared to play for Pakistan, Malik has been playing domestic cricket. He was the second-highest run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season, with 799 runs at an average of 73.57. He also featured for Sialkot Stallions in the recently-completed Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup