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Waqar wants Akram and three others out: report

The crisis in the Pakistan cricket team deepened further with captain Waqar Younis reportedly seeking the removal of four senior players, including former skipper Wasim Akram, for the Test series against Australia next month, holding them responsible for recent defeats.

Pakistan daily The News today quoted "well-placed sources" in the Pakistan Cricket Board as saying that Waqar and team manager Yawar Saeed had sought the removal of Akram, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul Haq and Rashid Latif, blaming them for the team's string of losses in recent tournaments.

"This has been conveyed to the Board chairman Lt General Tauqir Zia that Waqar and Yawar don't want the four seniors in the side now as they hold them responsible for the sudden decline in form," the sources said.

Meanwhile, new coach Richard Pybus of South Africa is likely to take charge of the team ahead of Pakistan's next match in the Champions Trophy, against Holland on Saturday.

The paper said Pybus has been asked to reach Pakistan in the next two days to finalise his contract and then go to Colombo for the match.

Pybus will replace current coach Mudassar Nazar, who too is said to have run out of favour of the captain and manager.

"The interesting thing is that they [Waqar and Yawar] have even gone against coach Mudassar Nazar who until recently was close to them and is now being blamed for the team's poor performances in recent times," the sources said.

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