Harsh to say Misbah, Waqar 'ran away', says interim Pakistan coach Saqlain Mushtaq

• Who the next coaches will be is a matter for the PCB, says interim Pakistan cricket team coach Saqlain Mushtaq
• Saqlain Mushtaq's comments come a day after former Pakistani coaches Misbahul Haq and Waqar Younis stepped down from their roles.
• Mushtaq's focus, however, he says, is not on what happened yesterday, but what will happen tomorrow

Pakistan cricket team's interim coach Saqlain Mushtaq says it is a bit harsh to say Misbahul Haq and Waqar Younis "ran away".

We shouldn't talk like this, he said, clarifying that he will not be commenting on the resignations of both coaches.

Mushtaq's comments come a day after former Pakistani coaches Misbahul Haq and Waqar Younis stepped down from their roles after developing differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the selection of the squad for the T20 World Cup.

Commenting on the resignations, former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had lashed out at them for "running away" from responsibilities. 

Mushtaq's focus, however, he said, is not on what happened yesterday, but what will happen tomorrow. "I am looking after the task given to me to improve Pakistan cricket," he said.

"Why the coaches left is a matter of tomorrow. I am looking forward to tomorrow. Who the [next] coaches will be is a matter for the PCB," he added.

"If we do well, the credit will go to the support staff. We will take credit for our mistakes and learn from them. If we do well, that is fine. But if we don't, we will accept our mistake and vow not to let it happen again," he said.

The former cricket star emphasised on playing fearless and aggressive cricket, saying that this is what the Pakistan team has done for the last one year. "We have spread the message till the bottom that we have to play dominant cricket," he said.

All the cricketers of Pakistan have the ability to play cricket in a fearless and aggressive manner, Mushtaq believed, highlighting that the players know how to fight.

The former off-spinner said that it is not necessary to give examples of Indian cricketers. "We have our own great legends. Why don't we give examples of them?" he asked.

"It is true that the Indian team is playing good cricket at the moment. As a coach, wherever you are playing good cricket, you see it, tell the players about it and learn from it," he said.

Mushtaq said the squad's focus at the moment is on the New Zealand series. "We have to do well. All the best players have been selected. They are capable of meeting expectations," Mushtaq said.

Mushtaq also said that he is proud to work with the Pakistan team. "It is a challenge and a responsibility has to be fulfilled," he said.