If reports are to be believed, Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis has accused captain Shahid Afridi of being “non-serious” throughout the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 Tournament.
Younis also accused batsman Mohammad Hafeez of hiding his knee injury from the team management.
According to media reports, Waqar said that Afridi appeared “non-serious” and not concerned about the team’s performance in the two events and regularly missed practice sessions and meetings. As for Hafeez, Waqar claimed that he didn’t inform the team management about the injury which ruled him out of the last two crucial matches against New Zealand and Australia.
This rift between the head coach and captain is not a new affair. Back in 2011, during Waqar’s first tenure as the head coach, a fight between the two resulted in PCB sacking Afridi as the ODI and T20 captain.
The legendary pacer, however, expressed his ‘disappointment’ at the report being leaked to the media.
I am totally disappointed and upset with the way the report has been leaked and I think the Pakistan Cricket Board needs to find out who leaked it and for what purpose. I can only say what I have written in the report is what I sincerely feel. It is now up to the board to decide what to do. Because as I have said before, cosmetic measures will not bring about any good in Pakistan cricket.Waqar Younis to PTI
Waqar also talked about the indiscipline and arrogant attitude of players such as Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad.
He claimed that he had requested the national selection committee to include Salman Butt in the squad for the Asia Cup and World T20, but chief selector Haroon Rasheed, without consulting him, included Khurrum Manzoor.
Waqar also accused his former teammate Moin Khan of promoting the culture of favoritism in the dressing room when he was the chief selector. According to him, Khan even gave gifts to some players and helped them out regularly during the 2015 World Cup, which affected the team spirit.
Previously, Waqar publicly begged forgiveness for the team’s dismal performance while Afridi took to social media to apologise to the nation.
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