KARACHI, Nov 3: Pakistan cricket team’s head coach Dav Whatmore on Saturday strongly denied wanting Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez replaced, branding such reports as an attempt to demoralise the team before its high-profile 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 news 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 criticised 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 Pakistan 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,” remarked 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.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...