LAHORE: The Pakistan cricket team, still smarting from a shock 76-run defeat to India in their World Cup opener, received another blow on Tuesday when it was learnt that fielding coach-cum-team trainer Grant Luden, dejected over the attitude of some players, tendered his resignation soon after the Adelaide defeat.

However the team management put in a lot of effort to finally persuade Luden to withdraw his resignation after assuring him that all his grievances will be addressed, Dawn learnt on authority.

According to sources, Luden was unhappy over the attitude of some players with him and felt extremely disappointed with their poor show in the opening match against India.

The sources also told Dawn that the South African-born Luden was upset after some cricketers expressed dissatisfaction over his working ways. The fielding coach then decided to call it quits but the team management managed to convince him to withdraw his resignation.

It is instructive to note that Luden was appointed by former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi on May 30, 2014 after he was relieved by Bangladesh from the same post at the conclusion of the 2014 World Twenty20.

Luden was appointed soon after Waqar Younis was hired as head coach, Mushtaq Ahmad as spin bowling coach and Grant Flower as the batting coach.

He had also refused to accept the job in May when the PCB was going through incessant litigation between two chairmen — Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf — with the trainer fearing for his future at the time. However, later on he accepted the post after getting some assurances from PCB.

It may be mentioned here that a good number of injuries in the team as well the imposition of fine on some of the cricketers for reaching the team hotel late in Sydney besides an easy defeat at the hands of arch rivals India are all making the scenario bleak for the green-shirts.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play