Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has come hard against former national team coach and fast bowler Waqar Younis while alleging the Punjab-born speedster has spoiled Pakistan’s cricket during his tenure as a chief coach, adding the former was an abject ‘failure’ as a coach. (Read Here: Michael Clarke, Hashim Amla Likely To Team-Up For World XI In Pakistan).
“Waqar [Younis] was a failure as coach and he caused lot of damage to Pakistan cricket. He no doubt was a great player for Pakistan but as a coach he was a failure,” Kamran told Geo Super.
It is pertinent that in 2010-11, cricketer-turned-commentator Waqar was appointed as a chief coach for Pakistan, as for the same reason Kamran further pointed his tenure as ‘damage’ for Pakistan’s cricket.
The wicketkeeper batsman Kamran accused Waqar also of leading the downfall of Pakistan in all three formats of the gentleman’s game while revealing he didn’t let players settle in the side.
“In his enthusiasm to experiment and sideline established players he put the national team back by two to three years,” Kamran remarked.
It’s pertinent to mention Waqar, who has played a pivotal role for Pakistan with the ball, has received a criticism for his ‘rigid’ approach as a mentor, before being asked to step down following poor show in the Twenty20 World Cup, last year held in India.
“He had no plans on how to take Pakistan team forward. An example was when he went to the World Cup 2015 and asked Younis Khan to open the innings or his issues on playing Sarfraz Ahmed late in the tournament,” Kamran maintained.
In April 2016, Waqar tendered his resignation as a coach, before South African Mickey Arthur was roped in as a head coach by Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Waqar insisted on training hard all the time and not having the players also focus on their skills and cricket development was damaging to the team,” Kamran asserted.
However, in 2014 Waqar was given an extended run, as he enjoyed the second-term as a coach until 2016.
“I don’t know but he had issues with some players,” Kamran added.
In April 2016, Waqar tendered his resignation as a coach, before South African Mickey Arthur was roped in as a head coach by Pakistan Cricket Board.
“I have played under different coaches including Bob Woolmer and I can say they used to plan and they used to create a rapport with the players,” Waqar concluded.
Interestingly, Waqar was Pakistan’s 27th coach since 1992, which further saw Arthur Pakistan claiming the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Earlier, Waqar has also served as a bowling coach in 2006-07, before returning in 2009.
The Lahore-born Kamran had featured in 157 One-day Internationals, 53 Tests and 58 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan.
On the other side, the 45-year-old Waqar played 262 ODIs and 87 Tests for Pakistan. He bagged 416 wickets in 50-over format and 373 in Test cricket.