Waqar 'shocked' at player punishments

Waqar Younis, Pakistan's incoming coach, has expressed "shock" at the clean-up operation in Pakistan which saw the PCB ban and fine seven leading players. Waqar is due to arrive next week in Lahore from Sydney to take over from Intikhab Alam and prepare Pakistan's defense of the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean in April-May.

He will arrive now preparing to deal with the repercussions of the board's decision to hand out year-long bans to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik and open-ended ones to Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.

Of immediate concern will be the unavailability of Rana and Malik from the World Twenty20 squad; both have been key performers in the format in the past and Malik was in charge of the side that finished runners-up in the 2007 World Twenty20.

In the longer-term Waqar may well have to do without Younis and Yousuf in the Test side, a worrying prospect for a batting side that has failed to cross 350 more than twice in their last 16 innings, often with both of them present.

"It's a huge shock for me definitely," Waqar told Cricinfo. "I want to speak to the board about it to get more details on it before saying more, but it is definitely a big step."

Waqar was part of the touring set-up in Australia, appointed as a bowling and fielding coach for the series. That was his second stint in a coaching position with the Pakistan side, after spending nearly a year with the team and Bob Woolmer in 2006 as a bowling coach.

Though he has spoken to the chairman since about the tour, he wasn't called to the inquiry committee sittings. According to the PCB's release, he did submit a report which the inquiry took into account.

"It is a big step the board has taken and I hope they have solid evidence for taking the actions that they have taken," Waqar said. "All evidence must be there and they must have spoken to a lot of people for this. Once a player is banned it is a label you have put on him so it is a big thing."