Saqlain Mushtaq sorts out differences with PCB

Published January 27, 2022
Saqlain Mushtaq talks to reporters in Lahore on September 25, 2014. — AP/File
Saqlain Mushtaq talks to reporters in Lahore on September 25, 2014. — AP/File

LAHORE: After being on the verge of parting ways with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Saqlain Mushtaq has emerged as the strongest candidate to be appointed as the national team head coach after completing an interim role.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that the PCB Director International Cricket Zakir Khan met the former off-spinner on Thursday after local media reported a fall-out between him and the board.

According to the reports, Saqlain, after stepping down from his permanent role as the Head of International Player Development at the National High Performance Centre, was not happy with the financial package PCB offered to him for the head coach position.

Sources said the former Test cricketer was offered a salary less than that of former head coach Misbah-ul-Haq, despite leading Pakistan to the semi-finals at the ICC T20 World Cup last year and winning series against Bangladesh and West Indies.

Under Saqlain, Pakistan were able to break a 29-year World Cup jinx against archrivals India when they beat them by 10 wickets at the T20 showpiece event.

While the 45-year-old first assignment was the World Cup, he was appointed as interim coach ahead of Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand and England. Both series couldn’t be held due New Zealand’s abrupt withdrawal on the eve of the first One-day International citing security concerns and England’s opting out of the tour due to apparent ‘mental health issues’ for their players.

Saqlain took charge after former head coach Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis stepped down from their posts days after Ramiz Raja assumed charged as the PCB chairman.

The PCB has remained tight-lipped regarding certain future. However, according to sources, he will be Pakistan head coach as the team looks to host the likes of Australia, New Zealand and England this year.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.