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Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis step down from Pakistan coaching roles hours after World T20 squad announcement

Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have stepped down from Pakistan's head coach and bowling coach roles, respectively. Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq have been roped in as interim coaches.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis step down from Pakistan coaching roles hours after World T20 squad announcement-ayh
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Lahore, First Published Sep 6, 2021, 3:27 PM IST

In a twist of things in Pakistan cricket, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have stepped down from their respective roles. It comes as a surprise as it happens hours after Pakistan announced its 15-member squad for the ICC World T20 2021.

The duo communicated their decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday morning. While they had been appointed for the role in 2019, they still had a year left in their contracts.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis step down from Pakistan coaching roles hours after World T20 squad announcement-ayh

In a statement issued by the PCB, Misbah declared, "The quarantine in Jamaica post the West Indies series provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the past 24 months as well as the schedule for international cricket ahead. Considering that I would have had to continue to spend considerable time away from my family and that too in a bio-secure environment, I have decided to step down from the role."

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"The past 24 months have been thoroughly enjoyable, and I want to thank my team and the management for their support. I wish the Pakistan cricket team best of luck in the upcoming events and will continue to support them every time they will take the field to represent Pakistan," he added.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis step down from Pakistan coaching roles hours after World T20 squad announcement-ayh

As for Waqar, he feels that it makes sense to step down together since they walked into the role together. "After Misbah shared with me his decision and future plans, it was a straightforward one for me to resign as we had walked into the roles together, had worked collectively as a pair and now also step down together. Working with the Pakistan bowlers, including the youngsters, has been most satisfying as they have now started to show progress. Bio-secure environments in the past 16 months have had their impact, something we had never experienced during our playing days," he explained.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have been roped in as interim managers. As of now, they would be taking charge of the side's upcoming five Twenty20 International home series against New Zealand before PCB ropes in full-time coaches for the following home T20I series against England and the WT20.

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