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Wasim Akram was the driving force behind Mickey Arthur’s ouster: report

Sources close to the matter say Wasim Akram played the most active role in the South African’s departure.

By Web Desk

August 28, 2019

Member of the Cricket Committee, Wasim Akram, is the man behind Mickey Arthur's surprising exit. Photos: AFP

Bowling legend Wasim Akram was the driving force behind Mickey Arthur’s ouster as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Daily Jang reported on Wednesday.

Akram, a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Cricket Committee, was a major factor in Arthur’s appointment in May 2016.

According to Jang, however, the left-arm legend was also at the forefront of getting him relieved of his duties, although he wasn’t the only one to recommend that he be replaced.

In addition to Wasim Akram, the Urdu publication further reports that Misbah-ul-Haq, Urooj Mumtaz, Mudassir Nazar and Zakir Khan also played an active role in Arthur’s departure. Akram did make the most “solid” arguments against Arthur.

PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani had earlier vowed to extend Arthur’s deal but he decided to not go against the committee’s decision — much to Arthur’s surprise.

Some conspiracy theorists had claimed that Misbah was the most active of the committee members since had the most to gain — him being the frontrunner for the now-vacant position. But Jang’s sources tell a different story.