Karachi, Oct 23 (Inditop.com) Former Test cricketer Abdul Raqeeb was Friday appointed the new manager of the Pakistan team for its series against New Zealand after Yawar Saeed stepped down from the key post.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said Raqeeb has been named as the manager for the limited-overs and Test series against New Zealand after Saeed informed PCB chairman that he will not be able to continue his job any longer.
Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan pacer, returns as the assistant coach after being sacked following Pakistan’s Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka.
According to sources, the change in management has been carried out by the Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, to bring more harmony within the national team.
Asad Mustafa, a senior official in the PCB, takes over as the new assistant manager. He replaces Shafqat Rana, a former Pakistan cricketer who went to South Africa for the Champions Trophy.
Sources said Yawar was instrumental in touting Shahid Afridi as Pakistan’s new captain, something that irked current captain Younis Khan. It is believed that Younis demanded the removal of Yawar when he met the PCB chairman after initially resigning last week.
Raqeeb, a former leg-spinner, is currently serving on PCB’s governing board. He heads the sports department of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) for whom Younis Khan plays as captain on the domestic circuit.
Raqeeb is said to be very close to Younis as well as Afridi, the Pakistan vice-captain, who is also associated with HBL.
Pakistan team management: Abdul Raqeeb (manager), Intikhab Alam, (coach), Aaqib Javed (assistant coach) David Dwyer (trainer), Faisal Hayat (physio) Asad Mustafa (assistant manager).