Owais Lateef
Islamabad; Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assigned former captain and coach Waqar Younis as an advisor to handle cricket matters due to his busy schedule as Interior Minister. Waqar Younis, who has twice held the position of head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has once again become a part of the power corridor of Gaddafi Stadium as the chairman’s advisor. However, his previous stints as head coach ended on a sour note, raising questions about his appointment as an advisor.The PCB chairman held extensive consultations for the appointment of the advisor, including government officials, former players, and cricket experts.According to sources, he had also informed the Prime Minister about his decision to appoint an advisor due to his busy schedule as Interior Minister during their meeting a few weeks ago.Waqar Younis first served as head coach from March 2010 to August 2011 and was reappointed in 2014. He also held the position of bowling coach in 2006 and again in 2022 under Misbah-ul-Haq’s leadership.Waqar Younis’s two stints as head coach were marred by multiple controversies. His relationships with several players, including Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, were strained.As an advisor, his position may be more commanding and administrative, but his track record as head coach suggests that he may struggle to manage issues and unite the team.At a time when the Pakistan cricket team is under pressure due to poor performances on the England and Australia tours and the World Cup, Waqar Younis’s biggest challenge will be to bring unity to the team.He has publicly criticized Babar Azam’s captaincy as a commentator, so working with him to build a new team will also be a significant challenge for Waqar Younis.According to PCB sources, Mohsin Naqvi has decided to limit himself to the board’s administration, while Waqar Younis will have a free hand in cricket matters.However, his two failed stints as head coach may prove to be a significant burden for Waqar Younis, hindering his progress as an advisor.
Waqar Younis coaching career
After ending his illustrious cricket career, Waqar Younis began his coaching career in 2006. He has been appointed as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team twice and as bowling coach thrice.He was first appointed as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2006 but resigned in 2007. In December 2009, he was reappointed as bowling and fielding coach. In March 2010, he was appointed as the head coach of the national team for the first time. He resigned from the position in 2011, citing personal reasons.In 2014, Waqar Younis was appointed as head coach again, but he failed to complete his tenure and resigned in 2016 due to some disagreements. In September 2019, he was given responsibilities as a fast bowling coach in the coaching panel formed under Misbah-ul-Haq’s leadership. He resigned again before completing his tenure.
Waqar Younis as cricketer
Waqar Younis made his international debut in 1989 against India, taking 4/80 in his first Test match. He quickly established himself as a formidable fast bowler, known for his ability to take wickets on flat pitches and his skill with reverse swing.he took 373 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 23.56, including 22 five-wicket hauls and 5 ten-wicket hauls and 416 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) at an average of 23.84, including 13 four-wicket hauls.
