The former cricketer Misbah ul Haq has been confirmed as the head coach and chairman of selectors by the PCB on Wednesday. On the recommendation of Misbah ul Haq, the PCB also named Waqar Younis as the bowling coach and both the veterans will be serving for a three-year cycle.
Both Misbah and Younis were confirmed by a five-member panel that included Intikhab Alam (former captain), Bazid Khan (former cricket), Asad Ali Khan (Member of the Board of Governors), Wasim Khan (Chief Executive, PCB) and Zakir Khan (Director – International Cricket).
“It is very humbling for me to join a select group of some of the very best to have coached the Pakistan national sides in the past. It is an honor and more than that, a massive responsibility as we live and breathe cricket. 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.” – Misbah said.
Misbah admitted that he brings out a change in the team with his coaching tenure.
“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 pointed out.
“We need to understand this is a performance-oriented world and only those Pakistan players have thrived in the past who have taken the pride in donning the star and crest on their chests by delivering every time they have stepped on to the field. That’s the way I have played my cricket all through my career and this will not change in my new role.
“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. Both Waqar and I had a candid and frank discussion and we discussed and agreed on a number of things, including roles and responsibilities as well as how to take things forward.” – Misbah said.
Before Mishbah was appointed as the head coach, he was a part of the Pakistan Cricket Committee that suggested to the board to not renew the contract of Mickey Arthur and the other support staff after Pakistan’s group exit in the 2019 World Cup. Later, he resigned from his role and applied for the position of the head coach.
Back in the year 2006, Waqar Younis was first appointed as the bowling coach and continued till 2007. During the 2016 T20 World Cup, he has served as the head coach and has faced a lot of criticism after Pakistan failed to make in the semi-finals in India.
The duo will be first going with the home series against Sri Lanka where they are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is.
