Thaindian News

Karachi, March 2 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Tuesday that former Test captain Waqar Younis will take over as the new coach later this month.
PCB chief Ijaz Butt said the board has decided to appoint Waqar as Pakistan’s coach till the end of 2011. Butt said Waqar will sign a contract with the PCB later this week.

Waqar, one of Pakistan’s most successful fast bowlers of all time, will replace Intikhab Alam, who was the coach during Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia. Waqar was the bowling and fielding consultant during the tour.

Ijaz Ahmed, the former Pakistan Test batsman, will assist Waqar as the team’s batting and fielding coach.

Since 1995, the board has changed the coaches 14 times with former England player Bob Woolmer enjoying the longest stint from 2004-07 until his sudden death during the last World Cup in the West Indies.

The PCB has also announced that foreign consultants would be appointed to assist the new coach on a series-to-series basis when required. Waqar, who was a bowling coach with the national side from 2006-07, said he was happy with the arrangement and plans to fly to Pakistan next week for his new stint.

Regarded as one of the finest exponents of reverse swing, Waqar formed a formidable fast-bowling pairing with Wasim Akram, taking 373 Test wickets at an average of 23.56 and 416 at 23.84 in One-day Internationals.