Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar was left unimpressed after Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis stepped down from their respective coaching roles one month ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. While Misbah stepped down as the chief coach, Waqar Younis stepped down as the bowling coach of the team. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Akhtar said that their exit was a ‘cowardly act’.

“If I was in Misbah’s place, I would have fought for it and would have told them to ask for my resignation. It hardly makes sense to resign near to the T20 World Cup. According to me, it’s a cowardly act. Pakistan cricket needs you. If you are scared that the pressure of the World Cup will be put on you, it’s wrong,” Akhtar said.

However, did mention that with Ramiz Raza becoming the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, he might have asked Misbah and Younis to quit their posts.

“I don’t think they voluntarily resigned but were asked to do so. That was an order from the highest authority that they will not continue with either Misbah or Waqar. There could be bad news for PCB CEO Wasim Khan as well as I don’t think he will be able to hang around his job. I feel it could be a sad end for him as a new chief or chairman brings his own team,” Akhtar added.

“Ramiz Raja has all the right to bring his own team and ideas. He has the right to hire and fire anybody he wants as long as it is for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” The Rawalpindi Express further said.

Appointed in September 2019, Misbah and Younis still had a year left in their contracts.

In wake of their exit, the PCB appointed former cricketers Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq as interim coaches.