PCB fires Misbah’s friend, appoints the South African as an athletic trainer

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday fired fitness coach Yasir Malik, sources say. Photo: file

LAHORE: In another change, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fired fitness coach Yasir Malik on Thursday and hired a foreign coach for the national team.

Sources familiar with the matter said South African Drix Simon replaced Yasir Malik as the cricket team’s athletic trainer.

Yasir Malik – who had close ties to former coach Misbah-ul-Haq – worked with the Pakistan men’s cricket team for two years.

A few hours after PCB management announced the T20 team for the World Cup, Misbah ul Haq and Waqar Younis resigned as head coach and bowling coach respectively.

South African athletic trainer Drix Simon was working with the women’s team. The PCB, according to sources, has made it clear that there will be no compromise on the physical condition of the team’s players.

Yasser Malik. Photo files

Sources said Malik will report to the National High Performace Center (NHPC) and there is no possibility of his return to the national team.

A PCB spokesperson also confirmed that Malik would not play his roles and responsibilities with the team in the upcoming New Zealand series, however, he declined to comment on Malik’s future.

According to the spokesperson, Drix Simon has been given a special task to improve the physical condition of some national team players.

Simon specializes in his work. It will come after the New Zealand series and is expected to be accompanied by other support staff along with the Pakistani team.

Now, the only coaches rumored to be close to former Pakistan head coach Misbah ul Haq, are Shahid Aslam – who is serving as assistant head coach and Abdul Majeed – who works as a coach on the pitch.

However, sources say it will be difficult to keep the remaining coaches permanently.