Misbah-ul-Haq appointed head coach and chief selector of Pakistan cricket team

Former Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been named new head coach and chief selection for the national side. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Misbah has signed a three-deal with the national side. Waqar Younis is named as bowling coach for the side and will work with Misbah for a three-year cycle.

Intikhab Alam, Bazid Khan, Asad Ali Khan, Wasim Khan and Zakir Khan had gone through detail discussion over possible candidate and finally picked Misbah-ul-Haq as the ideal man to be head coach of Pakistan cricket team.

He clearly stated that the main aim of his coaching tenure will be develop a congenial and competitive team culture. “We have incredible gifted cricketers, and I will work with them to make sure we can produce the right results on the cricket field. In order to complete at the highest level, we need to adjust to the modern-day requirements for the game of cricket. The way forward is to change the dressing room culture to take Pakistan cricket in the right direction,” he pointed out.

Misbah-ul-Haq expressed his pleasure on Waqar Younis became named as bowling coach of the national side. He said that he is excited to work with a knowledgeable cricketer like Waqar Younis and believes there is no better than him to develop promising players into future superstars. The 42-year old stated that he had detained discussions with Waqar Younis with regards to the plans for the national side going forward.

Waqar Younis has been the head coach for national side on two occasions. In that tenure, Pakistan went through a lot of turbulence and was involved in spot-fixing saga on the tour of England. In 2006, he was appointed as bowling coach but relinquished the position in 2007. He was named head coach of the national side for T20 World Cup 2016 but resigned from his post as Pakistan failed to qualify for the finals of the competition.

Before his appointment as head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq was part of Pakistan Cricket Committee that clearly stated that Mickey Arthur should not be given an extension. He resigned from committee in order to apply for the role of head coach.His first assignment as head coach will be Pakistan’s home series against Sri Lanka.