World T20: Waqar Younis apologises for team’s disappointing performance

Head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Waqar Younis, apologised to the nation on Tuesday for the team’s disappointing performance in the World Twenty20 tournament in India.

“Literally, I clasp my hands and beg for forgiveness. The way we performed…it should not have been like this,” he said, speaking to reporters in Lahore on Tuesday.

Waqar said that sacking players or officials will not improve things for Pakistan cricket. “Cosmetic changes will not improve anything. It is imperative to change the system,” he said.

“I am ready to leave if my exit will solve the problem,” he said, but added that it was unfair to blame any single person for the team’s poor performance.

He said that he had performed his duties as Pakistan coach honestly, and that if he is held responsible he would step down as coach.

Waqar denied reports that there were ‘groupings’ in the Pakistani squad that played the WT20 tournament.

“There are no politics in the team. The truth is we performed very poorly, so there is no question of groupings,” he said.

He left it up to the higher-ups of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to determine the reasons of the cricket team’s inability to perform.

Earlier, Waqar Younis lashed out at T20 captain Shahid Afridi by terming his behavior as frivolous during the tournament.

The coach said Afridi was lacking judgmental power while the selection committee had also shown irresponsible attitude while picking up the players.

Pakistan finished their campaign with three defeats from four outings, including a loss at the hands of arch foes India in Kolkata.

They only managed to win two matches in the Asia Cup.