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. India stalled bilateral sporting relations with Pakistan following the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which left 166 people dead and were blamed on militants based across the border. But after hectic efforts from Pakistan, India relented in July this year, inviting the arch-rivals to tour. New Delhi cleared the tour earlier this week.
GMT 22:27 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Russian swimmer Prigoda takes gold in China with new WR in men’s 200m breaststrokeGMT 11:54 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Ajax and Bayern in tasty Champions League duel for first placeGMT 17:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Russian UFC Champ Nurmagomedov’s win was "fair and square"GMT 21:29 2018 Friday ,19 October
Moscow to host 2020 European Weightlifting ChampionshipsGMT 16:48 2018 Monday ,15 October
Russian fighter Nurmagomedov may be suspended for six monthsGMT 18:14 2018 Sunday ,07 October
Russia’s Nurmagomedov crushes McGregor, defends UFC titleGMT 17:44 2018 Thursday ,04 October
Underdogs CSKA beat Real Madrid in Moscow while a man downGMT 16:40 2018 Sunday ,02 September
Unified Korean team delivers historic medals, hopesMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor