Tag: Atiq-uz-Zaman

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman recently criticized the national white-ball men’s head coach Gary Kirsten over his remarks in his report to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Kirsten reportedly wrote a confidential report to the PCB, which got leaked in the media, in which he highlighted the issues that contributed to Pakistan’s disastrous performance during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The former champions failed to advance to the Super Eights stage, mainly due to their upset defeat against co-host United States of America (USA) in the campaign opener, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

Kirsten’s report highlighted the Pakistan cricket team’s disciplinary and fitness issues. However, Atiq-uz-Zaman did not mince his words in slamming Kirsten over complaining to the PCB, rather than solving the issues.

“Gary Kirsten came in and started complaining already. If you had the leadership skills, why are you complaining to the board about it? You should have resolved it while you were there. So, fingers crossed, I hope they do well, but I don’t see things getting fixed quickly,” Atiq said.

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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt also voiced a similar opinion yesterday, that management should be taking action not complaining.

During an appearance at ARY News’ show Sports Room, Butt was asked whether the authorities would take any action against Shaheen Afridi for his alleged misconduct.

The former captain, in response, emphasized that the management should have taken action straightaway but instead, they kept on selecting Shaheen Afridi for every World Cup fixture.

“If he was not disciplined then they should have dropped him and opted to go with some other player,” Butt stated.

“But, if you gave him full opportunity despite all these issues and are now complaining I think, anybody can do that. What’s the point of appointing [big names] with hefty salaries?” Salman Butt questioned.

“Management’s job is not to complain but to take action,” he concluded.

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Former Pakistan Test cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman commented on the reports regarding Shaheen Afridi’s altercation with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour to Ireland and England before the T20 World Cup 2024.

Atiq, a qualified coach, expressed his disappointment with Shaheen Afridi and emphasized that the pacer should have put his head down and tried not to bowl no-balls in the nets.

“If Mohammad Yousuf bhai said that, Shaheen Afridi shouldn’t have made the comments he did. I’m not sure if he made them or not, as these are just rumours. If he did, I’m really disappointed because Yousuf Bhai is a bigger name than Shaheen Afridi,” said Atiq-uz-Zaman.

“So, he got to understand that there is something called respect. If the coach instructs you, you should just put your head down and try not to bowl no-ball in the nets,” he added.

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According to recent reports, Shaheen engaged in a heated argument with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Sources asserted that the incident occurred during Pakistan’s net practice at Headingley when Shaheen engaged in a verbal exchange with the former batter.

The batting coach pointed towards Shaheen Afridi’s continuous no-balls in the nets, they added.

However, the pacer got furious and told Mohammad Yousuf to let him practice and not intervene in his bowling.

According to sources, Shaheen later apologised to the batting coach while the team management also reprimanded him for his misconduct.

However, the incident was termed the heat of the moment and the chapter was closed after Shaheen Afridi apologised to Mohammad Yousuf.

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KARACHI: The former Pakistan Test cricketer and qualified coach Atiq-uz-Zaman has moved to England to serve as the batting scout of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The former Test cricketer, who represented Pakistan in one Test and three ODIs and also served as the qualified coach for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has flown to England after being appointed by the ECB as the batting scout.

As a batting scout, Atiq will travel to numerous counties in search of new talent, who will then represent England’s national team and the England Lions.

“I am extremely grateful that the ECB saw me in a different light and thought I could do a fantastic job for them,” he said.

“I am currently working as an ECB Level 4 Coach and am the highest qualified Pakistan Test cricketer. I will also be the first Pakistani to hold the position of ECB Batting Scout.,” he added.

It is worth noting that England and Lions scouts are crucial in identifying, monitoring, and suggesting players for the national team. It also monitors and assesses players’ current preparedness and future potential to represent England.

Whereas, reports also suggest that Atiq, who was working as the fielding coach in the National High-Performance Center (NHPC), requested that the PCB offer him the same position with the national team, but the cricket board turned him down.

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