CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday strongly denied reports that the national team’s fielding coach Grant Luden has resigned after a tiff with three players.
A PCB spokesman said that the report is completely false, adding that Pakistani players have been carrying out routine training session here ahead of their second Pool B game against West Indies on Saturday.
“Apropos of a news item appearing in a section of the press and run by several news channels back home in Pakistan, stating that there has been a tiff between three players Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and fielding coach/trainer Grant Luden and the latter has resigned because of it, it is clarified that the news is absolutely false and that nothing of the sort has happened,” the PCB spokesman Agha Akbar said in a statement.
“The entire team trained together 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. 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,” added Akbar, who is travelling with the national team as its media manager.
Akbar revealed that Luden has expressed his desire to quit before the World Cup but for personal reasons.
“However, a few days prior to the start of the ICC World Cup 2015, Mr Luden had expressed his desire that for personal reasons, he would want to be relieved of his duties somewhere in May ‘15. Subsequently, as his issues were resolved, he took his resignation back.
“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”, he concluded.
AFP adds: Pakistan´s World Cup campaign was rocked by fresh allegations of unrest on Wednesday when reports claimed that fielding coach Grant Luden was involved in a heated row with senior players.
Even before the tournament started, eight members of Pakistan´s 15-man squad — including Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad — were fined $300 each by team management for breaking a curfew.
Days later Pakistan suffered a 76-run defeat by defending champions India in their tournament opener in Adelaide, the team´s sixth successive loss to their arch-rivals at the World Cup.
According to reports Luden had resigned after an argument with Afridi, opener Shehzad and batsman-cum wicketkeeper Umar Akmal following Sunday´s Pool B loss.
“Luden had a serious argument with some senior players and out of frustration resigned,” a source in the Pakistan camp said.
Luden, a member of Pakistan coach Waqar Younis´s backroom staff, was hired as fielding coach in May last year on a two-year contract.
A PCB spokesman said that the report is completely false, adding that Pakistani players have been carrying out routine training session here ahead of their second Pool B game against West Indies on Saturday.
“Apropos of a news item appearing in a section of the press and run by several news channels back home in Pakistan, stating that there has been a tiff between three players Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal and fielding coach/trainer Grant Luden and the latter has resigned because of it, it is clarified that the news is absolutely false and that nothing of the sort has happened,” the PCB spokesman Agha Akbar said in a statement.
“The entire team trained together 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. 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,” added Akbar, who is travelling with the national team as its media manager.
Akbar revealed that Luden has expressed his desire to quit before the World Cup but for personal reasons.
“However, a few days prior to the start of the ICC World Cup 2015, Mr Luden had expressed his desire that for personal reasons, he would want to be relieved of his duties somewhere in May ‘15. Subsequently, as his issues were resolved, he took his resignation back.
“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”, he concluded.
AFP adds: Pakistan´s World Cup campaign was rocked by fresh allegations of unrest on Wednesday when reports claimed that fielding coach Grant Luden was involved in a heated row with senior players.
Even before the tournament started, eight members of Pakistan´s 15-man squad — including Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad — were fined $300 each by team management for breaking a curfew.
Days later Pakistan suffered a 76-run defeat by defending champions India in their tournament opener in Adelaide, the team´s sixth successive loss to their arch-rivals at the World Cup.
According to reports Luden had resigned after an argument with Afridi, opener Shehzad and batsman-cum wicketkeeper Umar Akmal following Sunday´s Pool B loss.
“Luden had a serious argument with some senior players and out of frustration resigned,” a source in the Pakistan camp said.
Luden, a member of Pakistan coach Waqar Younis´s backroom staff, was hired as fielding coach in May last year on a two-year contract.
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