LAHORE: The manager of Pakistan’s cricket team resigned on Monday, just days after the players flew home from England following controversies over spot fixing.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt relieved Yawar Saeed of his duties at Saeed’s own request, the board said.
The 75-year-old Saeed had hinted about stepping down before the tour began in June and denied that his decision to go was connected to the allegations that marred the team’s tour of England.
The allegations surfaced after British newspaper News of the World claimed that alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed paid several Pakistani players to deliberately bowl no-balls during last month’s Lord’s Test against England.
Scotland Yard raided the team’s hotel in London, and interrogated Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir and Wahab Riaz.
So far no charges have been brought against Pakistani players.
The International Cricket Council has provisionally suspended Salman, Asif and Aamir.
“I had requested the PCB chairman to relieve me of the duties before the England tour... nor it is linked to the tour of England,” Saeed told reporters.
Saeed is the son of Mian Mohammad Saeed, who led Pakistan in their first unofficial Test in 1948, and brother-in-law to the late fast bowler Fazal Mahmood.
Pakistan’s next assignment is a neutral venue series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, starting next month.
Saeed is likely to be replaced by Shafqat Rana, assistant manager on the England tour.