Misbah at helm as PCB announce new coaching staff

Former Pakistan captain has also been given additional responsibility of chief selector

PHOTO: AFP

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named former Pakistan captains Misbahul Haq and Waqar Younis as the head coach and bowling coach of the Men in Green. Misbah has also been given the added responsibility of being the chief selector of the national side.

Earlier, the PCB had decided not to renew the contracts of Head Coach Mickey Arthur, Bowling Coach Azhar Mahmood, Batting Coach Grant Flower and Trainer Grant Luden.

Misbah was confirmed as Pakistan men’s national team head coach in all three formats on a three-year contract.

In line with the PCB’s commitment to ensure transparency, accountability and role clarity at all levels, Misbah was also named as the Chairman of Selectors with head coaches of the six first-class Cricket Association sides as his fellow selectors.

Is Misbahul Haq the most powerful man in Pakistan cricket? 🏏 pic.twitter.com/D3CWwhetEa
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) September 4, 2019

Misbah was a unanimous choice of a five-member panel that comprised Intikhab Alam (former captain and the longest serving Pakistan team manager and coach), Bazid Khan (former international cricketer and one of the most respected commentators), Asad Ali Khan (member, Board of Governors), Wasim Khan (Chief Executive, PCB) and Zakir Khan (Director – International Cricket, PCB) following a robust recruitment process.

On the recommendation of Misbah, the PCB also named two-time former head coach and ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Waqar Younis as bowling coach of the national side on a three-year contract.

Both the national team appointments were approved by the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani.

The first assignment of Misbah-Waqar combination will be the upcoming three ODI and three T20I home series against Sri Lanka, which will be played from September 27 to October 9. The duo’s first series in the World Test Championship will be in Australia when Pakistan will play in Brisbane (November 21-25), followed by a day/night Test in Adelaide (November 29-December 3).

Misbah and Waqar have previously worked as a pair from May 2014 to April 2016 with the former as captain and the latter as head coach.

The 45-year-old Misbah, who retired from international cricket in May 2017, said: “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 honour and more than that, a massive responsibility as we live and breathe cricket.”

He added: “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.”

He also stressed on the need for embracing modern-day cricket requirements.

“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,” he said.

🚨 JUST IN 🚨@captainmisbahpk named Pakistan head coach and chief selector.

MORE 🔽 https://t.co/dlN8MggeUZ pic.twitter.com/b8HTttdhFy
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 4, 2019

“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,” he added.

Misbah was also excited about working alongside Waqar in this 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,” he said. “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."