Ijaz Butt, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ignited controversy after claiming that head coach Waqar Younis had resigned just prior to the ICC World Cup 2015 after being insulted by flamboyant opener Ahmad Shehzad.
“PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told me about the incident and asked me to speak to Waqar to change his mind after he had submitted his resignation when the team returned home from a series,” Butt said. “Apparently one of the players misbehaved with Waqar and insulted him calling him a “sifarashi” during a series. Waqar retaliated physically and the matter went to the Board,” Butt added.
Butt also said that some time ago, he had advised Ahmad Shehzad to be more disciplined and concentrate on his career rather than getting involved in ugly controversies. “I had told Shehzad he was too much under the influence of Shahid Afridi and pandered to him. Waqar was very upset, but I convinced him that it was not the right time to resign and he should continue,” Butt said.
The former manager of the Pakistani team Naveed Akram Cheema was also a witness to the ugly confrontation between Shehzad and Younis. “From what the manager (Cheema) said few players were misbehaving with Waqar and challenging his authority in the dressing room,” Butt added.