LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a mind-boggling clarification on Wednesday, denied reports published in the press and run by several news channels regarding a tiff between Pakistan fielding coach Grant Luden and three players namely Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal which led to the South African trainer tendering his resignation.

The clarification was issued by the team management from Christchurch, where the team arrived on Wednesday for their second World Cup match against the West Indies following their loss to India in the opening Pool ‘B’ match in Adelaide on Sunday.

Read: Fielding coach Grant Luden quits over players’ attitude

But in a confusing twist, the clarification mentioned that Pakistan’s assistant manager Shahid Aslam had been training the players with other coaching staff.

“The entire team trained together on Tuesday afternoon, in a spirit of camaraderie, under the supervision of head coach Waqar Younis with each of the other coaches and assistant manager Shahid Aslam actively involved throughout the extended four-hour session,” it said.

Also read: No rift between players and staff: PCB media manager

“Ditto for Wednesday where some players were put through their paces by all coaches with Mr Luden putting in an extra hour on both days with a select group of players.”

It was learnt by Dawn that Shahid was involved in coaching after Luden preferred not to be involved with some cricketers while a PCB official confirmed on the condition of anonymity that the fielding coach had in fact resigned but later withdrew after his issues were resolved.

Another confusion arose with the clarification stating Luden had “only expressed his desire that for personal reasons, he would want to be relieved of his duties somewhere in May 2015. Subsequently, as his [Luden’s] issues were resolved, he took his resignation back”.

The question arises how the PCB solved Luden’s “personal” problems.

“The PCB and the team management as well as the boys hold the job he is doing in high esteem, and are keen that he continues to serve in his present role,” the clarification added.

Meanwhile, confusion reigns over Shahid Aslam’s role with the team. Previously, he was working at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore while also working as the team’s assistant manager.

But after chairman Shaharyar Khan took over the helm of affairs at the PCB, he offered Shahid to choose one job declaring the dual job as ‘conflict of interest’.

Shaharyar was later reported in the press that Shahid was included in the team management after he relinquished his NCA post. Despite that, Shahid’s name is still on PCB’s official website, showing him as Manager Coach Education.

Dawn, meanwhile, still stands by its story about Luden’s resignation.

Published in Dawn February 19th , 2015

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