Pak cricketers more professional after punishments: Waqar

ST. LUCIA: Coach of Pakistan cricket team Waqar Younis has said that the punishments imposed on Pakistani cricketers in March this year after the disastrous tour of Australia, have made Pakistan cricketers more professional.

Seven Pakistani cricketers were punished by Pakistan Cricket Board over the recommendations of inquiry committee formed to probe the reasons behind the poor performance of Pakistan cricket team in Australia. These players include Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan (indefinite ban), Shoaib Malik and Rana Naveed (one year ban and 2 million fine), Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi (3 million fine) and Umar Akmal (2 million fine).

It was also learnt that it was the Waqar Younis report which prompted PCB to take action against these players. Waqar Younis was part of Pakistan cricket team’s tour of Australia as a Bowling coach and after the tour; Waqar also appeared before the inquiry committee and submit his recommendations to them. In his meeting with Chairman PCB, Waqar Younis advocated the stern actions against these players.

While talking to the newspaper at St. Lucia, Waqar said “Australia, the boys were a little laidback, not really bothered; they have really started pushing themselves. I wouldn’t say they’re scared but they’ve probably started thinking it’s a professional game and they get paid for it, it’s a country at stake, so I think they’ve started realising that.”

“What we went through in the last three or four weeks, some of the boys are banned, it wasn’t easy to take over this job, it was difficult but I’m managing it OK,” I’ve seen the change from Australia to Pakistan, the boys have really started responding.”, he added.

Waqar also praises Afridi as captain of National team and said “”I think he has probably realised that he wants to do more, and I think he is the best choice as captain, he is an all-rounder and he leads from the front. In the past three years he has been the key for the one-day and Twenty20 side because of his bowling. He is bowling superbly; he is a match-winning bowler. And with his quick 30-odd off 10 balls or whatever, that really puts the game in your favour. Since he has become captain he’s taken the responsibility, he has become more of a leader.”

This column is taken from Sportsencounter.com