Waqar Dismisses Media Reports, Says no Intention to Quit

Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has been forced to rebut media reports about him having tendered his resignation to the Board.
Pakistani pace legend Waqar Younis rates his team Number 1 in the world. (Photo: AP)
Pakistani pace legend Waqar Younis rates his team Number 1 in the world. (Photo: AP)

KARACHI: Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has been forced to rebut media reports about him having tendered his resignation to the Board after growing speculation about disquiet in the national team dressing room on the tour to New Zealand.

Waqar in an audio message released through the PCB said today that all media reports about his supposed resignation were rubbish.

"I am really upset at the way the media comes up with such stories. Whenever we don't do well they are such stories churned out by the media and it is most unfortunate," Waqar said.

The media has reported that the environment in the Pakistan dressing room was far from ideal and Waqar and the other support staff reportedly threatened to quit if the players were not comfortable with them and were not able to execute plans given to them.

Pakistan have faced a troubled in one-dayers and T20 matches in recent times and were routed by England in the UAE before also losing the T20 series in New Zealand and also the first ODI.

The media has reported about a lack of trust between the team management and the players and about how Waqar had told the PCB he was ready to step down.

Waqar made it clear he had no intention of stepping down and insisted that Pakistan cricket would be harmed if such baseless reports were given on the eve of the Asia T20 and World T20 events in Bangladesh and India respectively.

"I have no intention of stepping down. Especially when the team is in a transition period and is trying to adopt to the requirements of modern day cricket," he said.

"I hope there will be no more distractions before two major events for us," he added.

Waqar's two-year contract expires in May but the PCB has said he would continue as coach for the tour to England from July to September.

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