LAHORE: There has been some controversy in the appointment of coaches and assistant coaches for the six provincial teams which are going to feature in the newly revamped Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, starting from Sept 14, Dawn learnt here on Wednesday.

Sajjad Akbar, who was declared as best coach by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year, has surprisingly been demoted and will now be the head coach of the Second XI of South Punjab. Sajjad, despite earning the title of best coach of the last first-class season, while coaching Lahore Blues which also won the last National T20 Cricket Tournament and having passed Level-VI coaching course, Sajjad does not deserve the Second XI team. A few Pakistani coaches are available in the country, who have passed Level VI coaching course. Sajjad has also played 187 first class matches.

As opposed to that Samiullah Niazi, who has been playing for the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited team which is also the team for which newly appointed head coach and chief selector of Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq played for many years, has been appointed assistant coach of the First XI of Central Punjab although he just has a Level-I coaching degree.

Moreover, in yet another surprising move, the PCB changed the role of Arshad Khan, excluding him from the national junior selection committee to appoint him as head coach of the First XI of the Balochistan team in a hushed up move. In his place, Wajhatullah Wasti, who has worked under Inzamam-ul-Haq’s last senior selection committee has been readjusted.

Moreover, another senior coaching person and former international Navid Anjum has also been named as Second XI coach of Central Punjab, despite having vast experience of coaching.

Moreover, the PCB also changed the role of many previous selectors to adjust them as coaches and among them are Tauseef Ahmad (selector of previous senior selection committee) and now he will work as head coach-cum-manager of Sindh Second XI. Former member of junior selection committee Furrukh Zaman will also now work as manager of KP team.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2019