KARACHI : Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has said that the national team players needed to show a change in attitude to start winning consistently.
The former fast bowler made it clear he was not willing to compromise on players with no right attitude.
“I have made it clear to the players if you do not have the right attitude you cannot be in the team,” he said at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Waqar confirmed he had spoken about the attitude of some players in his World Cup report but refused to go into details.
“It is a confidential thing between me and the board but the idea behind is to address the shortcomings of the players,” he said.
“I think the Board has looked into my report and also taken some steps in that regard. The most important thing for me is attitude as you are selected to play for your country from amongst nearly 18 crore people,” he added.
Waqar in his report and captain Misbah-ul-Haq both recommended that the selectors drop Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal for a year and confine them to playing domestic cricket to improve their attitude and cricket awareness.
Waqar insisted whatever decisions he took as head coach were taken in interest of the team at that time.
He said he did not give time to vitriolic criticism against him and the team.
“I know one has to expect criticism in a country like Pakistan where cricket is so big but I appreciate the criticism from people who are important to me but I ignore people who do not mean anything to me.”
Waqar said it should be a challenging series against Bangladesh and also a chance for new one-day captain Azhar Ali to prove his mettle.
Azhar was appointed captain after Misbah announced his retirement from ODIs after the World Cup.
“We have got some very talented young players in the team for the tours as well such as Sami Aslam and Babar Azam. I am hoping they will avail the opportunity,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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