LAHORE, Jan 7: Former skipper and champion fast bowler Waqar Younis, who tendered his resignation as Pakistan bowling coach on Saturday, said the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman's insulting and unfair attitude forced him to quit the post.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, Waqar said that immediately upon arrival in Lahore on Saturday after performing Hajj, he tried to contact Dr Nasim Ashraf to know why he was only retained for the Tests in South Africa and not the One-day Internationals.

"After four hours of constant effort, I finally managed to get in touch with him late on Saturday night,” said Waqar. “And when I asked him about the decision of keeping me away from the one-day series, the chairman informed me that it was done by the team management and not the board."

"But the chairman was dumbfounded when I reminded him that I was also part of the team management," said the Sultan of swing.

Waqar said he then asked the PCB chief if he was lacking anything to qualify as coach for the ODIs. “But all the chairman could come up with ‘you will get full pay till the end of the contract in April.’

“I told the chairman that I am not hungry for money and if you have no work for me I will tender my resignation tomorrow. To this he said you should do it right now instead of tomorrow, which I did," said the disgruntled pacer.

PCB’s Director Communications, Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik, when contacted to comment on the incident, said only captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer had the authority to pick the team management and it was on their suggestion that the board kept Waqar away from the ODI series. He clarified that the PCB had done nothing but merely acted on the advice of Inzamam and Woolmer.

Waqar said he that he had also come to realise now that a conspiracy was hatched against him by those who felt more comfortable with the newly-appointed assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed. He also criticised skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for not taking him into confidence over the decision.

“Inzamam has kept regular contact with Saeed Anwar (former Test opener) who was with me during Hajj, but he never spoke to me about the decision despite knowing that I was staying with Saeed," he said.

"Inzamam could have informed me about the decision and taken me into confidence but I believe they (Inzamam, Woolmer) are more comfortable with Mushtaq.”

Waqar said Woolmer might not be happy with him since he was not ready to assist him in his job while Mushtaq was ready to go all out for the former England player.

"Since I am supposed to coach the bowlers only, I solely concentrated on that area and did my best to improve their skills. All I can say is that probably Woolmer felt a bit threatened by my presence.”

A visibly hurt Waqar said it was not the first time that the PCB had disgraced the stalwarts of the game. "In the past too, the PCB sacked Javed Miandad in the middle of his contract while the present chairman axed Mushtaq Ahmed barely hours before the team’s departure for the ICC Champions Trophy last November. And now his attitude has been downright insulting, leaving me no choice but to resign," accused Waqar.

Commenting on his seven-month stint with the Pakistan team, Waqar said he was totally satisfied with his working and tried his best to improve the skills of young pacers like Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

Meanwhile, it has been reliably learnt that a recent ‘deal’ between the PCB chairman and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq resulted in Waqar Younis's ouster as Pakistan bowling coach.

Sources say that while Dr Ashraf convinced Inzamam in appointing Aaqib Javed as chief coach of the National Cricket Academy, he accepted the captain's demand to appoint Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach for the national side.

According to information, Inzamam was against the appointment of Aaqib as the NCA coach since the former fast bowler had been a leading critic of team's performance in recent times.

AFP adds: Younis, who played 87 Tests and 262 one-day matches for Pakistan until 2004, was appointed bowling coach in 2006 for a one-year contract, which was to expire in April this year.

“I have conveyed my decision of leaving the post to the PCB chairman,” said Younis, who returned with Yousuf Saturday from Saudi Arabia after performing the Hajj annual pilgrimage.

“Respect is something that the PCB needs to learn. I am a bowling coach and not a clerk,” said Younis.

Younis said he made a difference to Pakistan's bowling through his knowledge.

“The improvement in Pakistan bowlers is there to be seen. I took time out from my family commitments to help youngsters, but it is better to quit when you don't get the respect,” said Younis, whose family is now based in Australia.

Younis took 373 Test and 416 one-day wickets. He is also tipped to take over as New South Wales coach.