Waqar to quit as coach after series in Zimbabwe

Waqar addressed a press conference here to make his announcement, insisting he had taken the decision on medical grounds. “I have decided to step down because of medical reasons and the board has accepted my resignation,” he said.

Waqar, however, rubbished rumours that he was resigning because of any rift with officials or players. “People should not read more into my decision as it has been taken because of medical reasons and now I can’t remain away from my home in Sydney for long periods,” he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board's chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said Waqar needed to go to Australia for treatment.

“We didn't want him to go but after he explained things to us, we understood he needed to be with his family,” Ahmad said.

“We are thankful to him that he agreed to go to Zimbabwe. We will now begin the process of looking at suitable candidates for the coaching position.”  The resignation comes against the background of the much publicised feud between Waqar and former one-day skipper Shahid Afridi on the last tour to the West Indies.

Waqar, whose contract with the PCB is until 2012, said he would step down after the Zimbabwe tour for which the team will leave on August 25 to play one Test, three one-day internationals and two T20 matches.

Interestingly, Waqar’s resignation comes just one day after the PCB’s integrity commitee cleared former captain Shoaib Malik to play for the national team.