Younis back for 2nd stint as Pakistan coach

Younis was the coach for 18 months, leading the team to the semifinals of the 2010 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, then resigned after the series in Zimbabwe for personal reasons.(Andres Leighton/AP)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Waqar Younis received a second shot as Pakistan cricket coach on Tuesday.

Younis was the coach for 18 months, leading the team to the semifinals of the 2010 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, then resigned after the series in Zimbabwe for personal reasons.

A three-man committee including chief selector Moin Khan recommended Younis for national coach, and he was endorsed by chairman Najam Sethi with a two-year contract on Tuesday.

Younis replaced Khan, who received only a two-month contract to coach Pakistan at the Asia Cup and World Twenty20. Khan was then made a selector and returns as team manager.

Younis will complete his commitments in the Indian Premier League before taking charge in June. His first assignment will be against Sri Lanka in July, followed by series against Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates.

“I am extremely pleased to have been selected as the head coach,” Younis said in a statement.

During Younis’ previous stint as coach, three players — Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif — were banned for spot-fixing in a test against England at Lord’s.

Younis formed Pakistan’s formidable pace attack with Wasim Akram before quitting international cricket in 2003. He took 373 wickets in 87 tests, and 416 wickets in 262 one-day internationals. He was a bowling coach for the national team in 2006, ’07 and ’09.

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