NEWS
OPINION
GALLERY
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS

Javed Miandad quits as Pakistani cricket coach

Our Correspondent

Javed Miandad has quit as coach of the Pakistani cricket team, and will not accompany the side to England for the World Cup.

Miandad, who has played in all six World Cups to date, submitted his resignation to Khalid Mahmood, president of the Pakistan Cricket Board, today.

Miandad cited personal reasons for his resignation. The PCB for its part has chosen not to comment.

But inside sources indicated that Miandad's ouster has been inevitable for a while now. The former Test star was reportedly at loggerheads with captain Wasim Akram almost throughout the Indian tour. Miandad's insistence on orchestrating the fielding from inside the pavilion was seen as an abridgement of Akram's authority. Further, his harsh ways and rough and ready tongue reportedly precipitated clashes with senior members of the Pakistani squad.

Speaking to Rediff staffer Faisal Shariff, team doctor Dan Keisel had in fact said resentment against Miandad had been building throughout the Test tour of India.

Matters reached a flashpoint, however, in Sharjah when, following Pakistan's 62-run loss to England in the league encounter, Miandad clashed publicly with Akram and other senior members.

The senior cricketers complained to Mahmood, who was in Sharjah at the time.

It was subsequent to this that the PCB hired Richard Pybus of South Africa as "assistant" to Miandad. Though Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, vetoed the appointment on the grounds that Pybus would reveal South Africa's cricketing trade secrets, the latter insisted there was no conflict of interest and said he was determined to take up the job of coaching Pakistan.

The Pybus confirmation paved the way for Miandad's ouster -- the PCB reportedly giving him the option of taking the easy way out and "resigning on personal grounds".

Meanwhile, in another major development, the PCB has hired Sarfaraz Nawaz to proceed to England and base himself at Derbyshire -- home base of the Pakistan team during the build-up to the Cup. Nawaz has been informed that his job is to coach the fast bowlers in the squad.