Waqar Younis denies ever plotting against Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad
'There were some misunderstandings in the past but there is no truth to these claims,' the new bowling coach says.
Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis on Friday denied ever plotting against batsmen Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad or demanding that the duo be kept away from the national cricket team, Daily Jang reported.
Waqar had a turbulent relationship at best with both Akmal and Shehzad during his twin stints as the head coach of the national team — both of which ended in disaster following poor results and dressing room tug of wars.
With Akmal his problems ranging from disciplinary and fitness issues, whereas Shehzad he had run-ins with due to him being a member of then captain Shahid Afridi's posse.
READ: With great salary comes great responsibility for Waqar Younis
Younis, however, during a press conference in Lahore, refused to ever threatening the duo with their careers. "I have never said that Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad be kept away from the team," he said.
"There were some misunderstandings in the past but there is no truth to these claims."
Akmal, at one point, had infamously claimed in an interview that Younis had threatened to end his career if he did not keep the wickets in Test matches as well.
In a 2016 statement attributed to Younis, even he himself had acknowledged that Akmal and Shehzad "may not be seen in the team again if they are not prepared to work hard".
Furthermore, Younis and Shehzad reportedly had an altercation prior to the 2015 World Cup when the latter had called the former sifarishi (someone holding a position on undeserved recommendation).
Younis had taken his dislike for the youngest Akmal sibling in his broadcasting career as well, famously telling Sky Sports that he should be "ashamed of himself" for failing a fitness test before the Champions Trophy 2017.
'My and Misbah's chemistry is the same'
As a result of his many disagreements and squabbles with his charges over his two tenures, Younis has forged a reputation of being a difficult character. But he insists that there won't be any problems with the all-powerful Misbahul Haq, who ranks him due to being both the head coach and the chief selector.
On Friday, he offered his complete support to Misbah and dismissed any possibility of clashes. "Everyone is subordinate to the head coach, and you have to work with their mindset" he said. "My and Misbah's chemistry is very much aligned. I know my role and we will work together."
The Burewala Express further said that "it does not matter if I am the head coach or Misbah is" and that "our mission is to take Pakistan cricket to a higher level."
"This is no one individual's team. This is Pakistan's team," he added.
'Azhar Mahmood did a very good job'
Younis also rejected recalled pacer Usman Shinwari's criticism of Azhar Mahmood, who held the job Younis now holds.
"What Usman Shinwari said was his personal opinion," he said. "Azhar Mahmood was the bowling coach for three years and he did a very good job. He is a brilliant coach and played a major role in Pakistan's Champions Trophy-winning campaign."
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