Waqar Younis Quits as Pakistan Coach To Undergo Treatment for Reported Liver Problem

Waqar Younis is quitting his post as the Pakistan coach but contrary to the notion that it may have had something to do with the PCB or Shahid Afridi, his decision is based on purely health grounds.

Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis had an infamous fall out with Shahid Afridi before the latter was stripped of the Pakistan ODI captaincy for speaking to the media which he was reportedly restricted from. But Afridi decided to vent his ire in public and apparently it was not only during Pakistan’s tour of West Indies that the coach and captain suffered a rift. He was referring back to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 where Pakistan lost to India in the semi final in Mohali.

While Waqar stayed on as the Pakistan coach and expressed his dismay at the turn of events, Afridi took the snub to heart and announced his conditional retirement from Pakistan cricket while also lashing out at the Pakistan Cricket Board and some of the top officials that Afridi declined to play cricket under. Afridi’s rifts with Waqar began to take centre stage, once again taking the attention away from the Pakistan cricket in the field in what was expected to be another implosion. However, Waqar remained silent on the issue focusing only on his job instead of reacting byte for byte to Afridi’s comments in the media.

Even as Afridi continued to spit venom, the Pakistan Cricket Board seemed in no mood to let go of Waqar Younis as the Pakistan coach, sending a clear message that they had faith in Waqar that did not extend to the all rounder who, they said, had spoilt matters on his own behalf by repeatedly disrespecting the clauses in his contract and had disassociated himself from cricket by way of announcing his retirement. Waqar Younis though was continuing in his role with Misbah ul Haq becoming the Pakistan captain for all formats following Afridi’s demotion.

Now the news that Waqar Younis resigning as the Pakistan coach following Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe sent tongues wagging once more over whether the former Pakistan captain’s decision had something to do as part of the fallout of the incident with Afridi or as a result of a rift with the PCB. However, apparently nothing could be further from the truth because it is being considered that Waqar could even return in a similar capacity.

Waqar Younis cited personal and health reasons for declining to continue in his role as the Pakistan coach and apparently will return to Sydney to undergo treatment for a liver problem. Waqar’s condition apparently requires immediate attention which is why he is quitting his job and returning to be with his family in his adopted home where he will undergo the necessary treatment before contemplating a comeback to Pakistan cricket.

For Pakistan cricket though, it is another blow because in many ways, the PCB has shown great faith in Waqar as the team seemed to be settling under his role as well as under Misbah’s captaincy. It has been a difficult twelve months in particular for Pakistan cricket following the spot fixing scandal but Pakistan were trying desperately get out of the shadow. Now with the Pakistan Cricket Board having to look for a new coach, yet again Pakistan cricket is set for a transitional relationship and there is no telling how this one will fare.