Pakistan on Tuesday launched its hunt for a new head coach for the national cricket team even as outgoing coach Waqar Younis has warned that the performance of the side is unlikely to improve until wholesome changes were made in the way the game is being run in the country.
The Pakistan Ccricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday posted an advertisement on its official website inviting applications from interested candidates for the elite coaching position by April 25.
But if the PCB follows its own eligibility rules for appointing a new coach it virtually rules out many candidates for the job.
"The interested candidates must have atleast five years of working experience in a similar role with elite cricketers or national and international teams," the advertisement reads.
"Test/international cricketers would be preferred, however first class cricketers having more than 10 years experience may also apply," it said. The PCB also wants candidates to have strong computer skills and experience of successfully coaching athletes/cricketers to the required international standards.
PCB chief apologises to Waqar
Pakistan's outgoing coach Waqar Younis has received an apology from the Cricket Board (PCB) for the leakage of his confidential report on the national team's poor performance in the just-concluded ICC World Twenty20 in India.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has confirmed that he had met Waqar on Monday and apologised to him.
"Waqar might not have been able to produce desired results with the national team but he remains one of our top players and has big status in cricket. It was unfortunate that his confidential report was leaked to the media from the board," Shaharyar said.
"I apologised to Waqar and wished him the best after he informed me and had decided to resign as head coach. But the meeting was held in a good environment and I have promised him the board will hold an inquiry to find out how a confidential report was leaked," he said. Waqar's two-year coaching stint was due to expire in May and sources aware of the developments said that he was keen to continue until the tour to England this summer.