Whatmore denies wanting rid of Pakistan captain
Pakistan's head coach Dav Whatmore Saturday strongly denied wanting
Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez replaced, branding such reports as an
attempt to demoralise the team before its tour of India.
Local media this week reported that Whatmore has suggested the
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should replace Hafeez, who took over as
Twenty20 captain in May.
"I wish to clarify that I am currently not in Pakistan and have not
given any interview or statement to any media.
Neither have I submitted or discussed any such suggestion to the
PCB," Whatmore was quoted as saying in a PCB release. Pakistan reached
the semi-final of the World Twenty20 held in Sri Lanka last month but
Hafeez's captaincy was criticised by former players and the media, who
blamed him for making arbitrary decisions. Team-mate Abdul Razzaq also
lashed out at Hafeez for dropping him from the semi-final line-up
against Sri Lanka. However, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf this week confirmed
Hafeez was being retained as Twenty20 captain for the series against
India.
Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996, said
such reports were aimed at demoralising the team. "The news item is
totally incorrect and based on wrong intentions.
"It is an attempt to demoralise the team when they are preparing for
the all-important Indian tour," said Whatmore. Pakistan are due to tour
India for two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in December and
January -- the first bilateral series between the two countries in five
years.
AFP |