Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United made Misbah-ul-Haq their new head coach after sacking the long-serving Dean Jones on Thursday. Although not official yet, Misbah replacing Jones had been on the cards for some time, and was one of Pakistan cricket’s worst kept secrets, especially after Jones was let go a day earlier despite leading the side to two PSL championships – more than everyone else.
Dean Jones has confirmed that he has been sacked by Islamabad United as head coach, with former captain Misbah-ul-Haq all but having replaced him. The signing of Misbah – who is also Pakistan’s head coach and chief selector – has led to the five other PSL franchises raising objections, bringing up the issue of a potential conflict of interest given his multiple roles.
Jones confirmed his sacking via a video message on Twitter, where he expressed his disappointment while also recalling his stint with the team, with whom he won two titles. It is understood, however, that his removal had been on the cards for more than a year and ESPNcricinfo had reported earlier that Misbah was expected to take over.
Misbah’s previous stint with Islamabad had ended on a bad note after he backtracked on his agreement to be their mentor for the 2019 edition. He was picked as a player instead and went on to play for Peshawar Zalmi. Before changing his decision, Misbah reportedly offered Islamabad his services as a player but the franchise was not keen to have him in that role.
