Waqar Younis said that nowadays the glitzy T20 leagues have attracted players and due to easy money which it offers players opt for playing T20 leagues instead of playing test matches without thinking about the damage they do to their national team by quitting test cricket.
Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis feels that ‘easy money’ that T20 leagues offer makes cricketers negligent towards national interest. Waqar said that Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz’s decision to quit test match cricket last year is one big example where their personal goals and interest have ended up adversely affecting the interest of the national team. Amir has decided to quit the test match at an early age of 27 which created a controversy. “These T20 leagues offer easy money and a whopping amount to players who can remain in comfort as they have to bowl just four overs”, Waqar said in a conference call with journalists on Monday.
“Mostly thinking about their comfort zone players don’t think how much damage they are doing to the national interest, they opt for T20 leagues over Test matches without thinking about the broader picture”, he added. Waqar also criticized Amir and Wahab for the way they announced their decision.
“They way you announce your official decisions matters a lot if you are sitting on social media and announcing your decision it really hurts. They should have informed their management or board first, they should have discussed it first. It is unfortunate they did this because of this we had to suffer a bit”, he said.
“Bit it doesn’t affect the team much and we don’t have personal grudges against them if they have taken their decisions ist fine. I think they still have cricket left in them”.
“They should continue to play white-ball cricket if they are selected by Pakistan. Yes, they did leave the team in a difficult situation which was a tough time for the team”, he added.
“I think we should make policy on which players can’t quit test cricket but we can’t put any restrictions even by law. Players should take decisions by coordinating with the board because it hurts the team”, Waqar Younis added.
