Waqar Younis, head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has expressed his displeasure with the franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for not picking veteran batsman Younis Khan and left-arm pacer Rahat Ali.
Having run into several roadblocks since the idea being first floated more than five years back, the inaugural edition of the PSL is finally set to take place in the UAE in February 2016.
The T20 tournament will feature five city-based franchises – Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars – and the full schedule for what is set to become PCB’s flagship event was released a couple of weeks back.
The player auctions were held over two days and saw some surprising moves from the franchise owners with none of the five teams selecting veteran batsman Younis Khan in their squads. The 38-year-old had led Pakistan to glory in the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup held in England but was left disappointed altogether a long stand-off with the PCB.
Younis had publically expressed his disappointment after not being invited for the inaugural edition of the PSL and later threatened not to play in the league after being overlooked for the status of an icon player.
Waqar sympathised with the star batsman but was more vocal about the non-selection of 27-year-old pacer Rahat Ali, who has played 14 Tests and 13 ODIs for the national team. He also added that he would make a case to the franchises to reconsider their decision so as to get Rahat, and several other deserving players, included in one of the five teams.
"Rahat is one of our top bowlers and has represented the national team this year in the World Cup and other major events. It is strange that he was not picked for the PSL by any franchise," Waqar said. "I will request the PSL franchises to reconsider the situation and take some of these deserving players like Rahat on board."
The report further adds that Waqar is angry that he himself was overlooked for the coaching position by any of the franchises despite having made himself available. He was left further miffed after Pakistan A cricket team coach Muhammad Akram and former wicketkeeper Moin Khan was selected by Peshawar and Quetta respectively.
Waqar has made his feelings known to the PCB with many former players stating that the board should make amends by appointing the legendary fast bowler as a mentor for the PSL.
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