Saqlain Mushtaq turns down PCB’s offer for full-time head coach job

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) brought in Saqlain Mushtaq as the interim head coach of the team in September after Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis announced their decision to step down from the position of the head coach and bowling coach after the West Indies tour in September 2021. Mushtaq also travelled with the team for the T20 World Cup 2021 where Pakistan reached the semi-final.

The PCB had asked Mushtaq to become the full-time head coach of the team. However, he has turned down the offer and won’t be continuing with the post. At the time of his appointment, Mushtaq was also working as the coach at the High-Performance Centre in Lahore and he would continue playing his role there. Moreover, he would be available for a short tour or series of assignments.

Saqlain informed the PCB chief Ramiz Raja about his decision during a recent meeting. He also told that he can’t commit to a full-time role as he has prior business and personal commitments. Also, his business had suffered due to his absence in Pakistan.

“Saqlain told the chairman that while he was happy to have contributed as interim head coach he wouldn’t be able to accept a long term and permanent assignment as head coach as he had prior business and personal commitments,” a source said as quoted by The Indian Express.

“Saqlain conveyed that already his business has been affected due to his absence with the Pakistan team as interim head coach,” the source added.

Babar Azam and Saqlain Mushtaq wants to have a foreign coach

In the meeting with PCB chief, Saqlain and Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed their desire to have foreign coaches with the team. During the T20 WC, PCB had appointed Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander as interim coaches of the team. The team performed exceptionally well under the coaching of these overseas former players.

The PCB has already advertised for five coaching positions: batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach, power-hitting coach, and high-performance coach. The role of a power-hitting coach was introduced by the PCB for the first time.