Younis Khan parts ways with PCB over ‘undue interference’
Younis Khan parts ways with PCB over ‘undue interference’
Younis Khan has parted ways with the national team, just six months after being appointed the batting coach on a two-year contract, more due to growing interference of High Performance Centre’s (HPC) coaches into his way of working on some key backup batsmen.
A well-placed source has told ‘The News’ that Younis lived up to his reputation as the one who always prefers a free-hand to impart his expertise.
“Even as captain of the team he has resigned in the wake of growing interference into his work by outsiders. Here as a national team’s batting coach he was not happy, the way HPC coaches deal with majority of those batsmen, who go back to the center during no international activity or national camps for preparation of a foreign tour. Besides Grant Bradburn, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Yousaf also played their part in altering Younis’ style of coaching, forcing him to register reservations with the concerned officials in the PCB. Younis was unhappy with the way HPC coaches started interfering in his professional matters. He was also upset at how his efforts are being undermined by these coaches,” the source added.
Younis was too furious at a blunt interference of Mohammad Yousaf during the camp training meant to prepare Pakistan for the tour to West Indies.
‘The News’ has learnt that growing influence of Yousaf on the camp trainees and his efforts to wrest all the credit for himself irritated Younis who took the matter to the PCB and threatened to resign. Younis is a sort of personality who never complies with his principles even if he has to leave the job. He decided not to become part of the quarantine meant for the players and officials embarking on tour to England and West Indies. Rather Younis went into talks with the PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan and at the end decided to quit as batting coach.
Now the national team will head to England for white-ball series without a batting coach while the PCB is making efforts to find a replacement for Younis.
It is believed that Yousaf is interested in taking over the job but it would be too difficult for the team coaching staff headed by Misbahul Haq to accept Yousaf.
Misbah always enjoyed coordinal relations with Younis and it is highly unlikely that being the head coach he would accept Yousaf as a backup batting coach. In that case Inzamamul Haq could fill in for the time being.
Meanwhile, a close associate of Younis said that now the former batting coach was not willing to say anything about the controversy.
“I have left the job because of my personal commitments as I was too busy with my family,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PCB in a handout says both PCB and Younis mutually agreed to part ways.
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “It is sad to lose an expert of the stature and experience of Younis Khan. Following a series of discussions, we both have reluctantly but mutually and amicably agreed that it was time to move in different directions.
“I want to thank Younis Khan for his contributions during his short stint as the national team’s batting coach and hope he will remain available to assist the PCB by sharing his vast knowledge with the emerging cricketers.”
Both the PCB and Younis Khan have agreed not to make any further comment on the reasons for the former captain’s departure.
The national team will tour the UK from June 25 to July 20 for three ODIs and three T20Is, while the West Indies tour will begin from July 21 and will culminate on August 24 where the visiting team will feature in five T20Is and two Tests.
Comments