After Pakistan’s World T20 exit, Waqar Younis submits 'damning report on the team players' to PCB

Karachi: Pakistan’s under-fire head coach Waqar Younis has submitted his report on the national cricket team’s performances in some of recent series to PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan. According to the sources, Waqar has given a “damning report on the team players”. “Waqar has given a damning report on the team players and has said that most of the players were not able to implement the game plan given to them by the coach,” a source told PTI. “Waqar has specifically pinpointed that some of the players are just not willing to work hard enough or cooperate with the coaching staff by executing the suggestions given to them,” he added. [caption id=“attachment_2580040” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Waqar Younis. AFP[/caption] The source also said that the coach was not happy with Shahid Afridi’s captaincy. “Waqar has also questioned the captaincy skills of Shahid Afridi and some of his decisions. In totality, the head coach is clearly not happy with the way the players have responded or shown improvement in their game.” The PCB chief has sent the report to the fact-finding committee, which is formed to probe into the national team’s poor performance in the Asia Cup and World T20, as well as in earlier series against England and New Zealand. “Waqar has submitted a complete report on his two-year tenure and the chairman has sent the report to the fact-finding committee for its observations,” the source said. The fact-finding committee convenes in Lahore from Tuesday for a three-day period. The committee, which includes Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq and senior batsman Younis Khan, has been given the mandate by the board to meet and talk to the captain, coach, manager and senior players of the national team. The committee will also study the reports of the captain, coach and manager, and then take further action. The source said that Waqar has made some recommendations to the PCB chairman and told him in clear terms that some drastic decisions needed to be taken to bring about improvements in the Pakistan team including axing of some senior players. “Waqar is himself hugely disappointed at the way his two-year tenure has gone and has also spoken about the way the national selectors coordinated with him in selection matters,” the source informed. He also disclosed that Waqar had complained about the way the chief selector Haroon Rasheed had ignored his advice on many occasions and made selections after consulting Afridi. The Pakistan team has come under fire after losing ODI and T20 series to England and New Zealand and then faring poorly in the Asia T20 Cup and the World T20. Pakistan were knocked out of the World T20 after failing to qualify for the semi-finals as they lost three out of their four group matches. Afridi, meanwhile, made a quiet return to Karachi after staying in Dubai for a few days. “Shahid is also due to leave for Lahore tomorrow to appear before the fact-finding committee,” another source said. “Shahid is aware that his days as Pakistan captain are over but he is trying to extend his international career by being available only as a player. But Waqar has included his name among the senior players he believes need to be sidelined from the team,” he added. PTI