Islamabad United bids adieu to Misbah due to his commitments with national side

Published December 24, 2020
In this file photo, Misbahul Haq speaks during a press conference in Lahore. — AFP/File
In this file photo, Misbahul Haq speaks during a press conference in Lahore. — AFP/File

Islamabad United (IU) on Thursday bid farewell to Misbahul Haq as their head coach due to the latter's commitments with the national team and the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) conflict of interest rules.

In a statement, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise said that Misbah's contract, which had expired earlier, will not be renewed.

The seasoned cricketer — who stepped down as the chief selector earlier in October to focus solely on coaching — was the captain of two IU teams that had won the league in 2016 and 2018. He was appointed head coach of the franchise in Dec 2019.

In the statement, the team thanked the cricketer for his association with the franchise and wished him the best in his current role with the national team.

Commenting on the news, Misbah said that he had an attachment to IU and the relationships built over the past five years. "But with back to back World T20s coming up, I want to focus on the PSL from a purely neutral perspective.

"For anyone involved in Pakistani cricket, their national commitments should always be the priority, and for that I believe I will have to sacrifice my franchise commitments," he said in comments posted to the franchise's website.

"I wish the best of luck to Islamabad United for PSL 6, and the foundation we have built in that franchise will hopefully be a ladder to success for them for this year and future PSLs to come.”

Meanwhile, Ali Naqvi, the owner of the franchise, said: "Misbah has been an integral part of IU since being picked in the draft of PSL Season 1 in December 2015, and has been instrumental in making us the most successful team of the league.

"[The team] will miss his experience, guidance and wisdom but we respect the constraints of the PCB’s new rules and his commitments to the national side. We wish him the best in his professional as well as personal life," he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.