Waqar has kept the team united: PCB chief

Karachi, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hasreceived strong support from PCB chief Ijaz Butt for hisefforts to rebuild the national team following loss of somekey players to controversies and scandals.

"I am very happy with what Waqar is doing. He has a planto move forward and he has handled the team well despite thesituation arising out of the spot-fixing controversiessurrounding our players and other issues," Butt said inLahore.

He said he had personally seen the good work done byWaqar.

"The biggest plus is that Waqar understands our cricketculture and has no problems communicating with the players,"Butt said.

"He has kept the team united despite the off-the-fieldcontroversies we have had to face since last year," Butt said.

Butt said having seen the work put in by Waqar, he wasconfident of a good showing form the team in the World Cup.

Earlier, Waqar urged the team to put the spot-fixingcontroversy behind, move on and make a fresh start.

"The World Cup provides us with a great opportunity tomake a fresh start. It has been difficult for the playerssince the controversies broke out last year in England butthey have handled it well," he said after reaching home fromNew Zealand, where Pakistan drew the Test and won the one-dayseries.

Waqar said the World Cup was a big opportunity forPakistan cricket to make a fresh start and allow people tofocus back on cricket.

"Pakistan cricket is not about controversies, it is aboutsome high class cricketers and performances. The New Zealandtour has given us the right momentum for the World Cup at theperfect time," he added.

The former captain and fast bowler said that the last fewmonths have been difficult for everyone and he had tried hisbest to keep the players focused on cricket.

"I am happy this spot-fixing chapter is finally over andwe can now move on to just cricket as the World Cup representsa big challenge for us. The former fast bowler was coach onthe England tour last year when the spot-fixing allegationsagainst Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif firstsurfaced.

Waqar also gave a statement to the ICC on the issue alongwith one-day captain, Shahid Afridi.

Team manager, Intikhab Alam also said that while he wassad and felt bad for the three players -- been banned by theICC anti-corruption tribunal -- one had to move on.

"What happened is regrettable but now we must move on andmake a fresh start and I think this team is capable of doingthat in the World Cup.