Mushtaq 'hurt and angry' at sacking

Mushtaq Ahmed has said that said he is "hurt and angry" after being sacked as Pakistan's assistant coach just hours before the team left for the Champions Trophy in India.

Mushtaq's dismissal followed a turbulent couple of days during which Younis Khan quit the captaincy only to be reinstated, but not before Shaharyar Khan resigned as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"Obviously I am disappointed, in fact hurt and angry," Mushtaq said. "I shall be meeting the new PCB chairman, Dr Naseem Ashraf, on Monday to find out the real reasons for my sacking. As far as I know, I had done nothing wrong."

Ashraf, on President Musharraf's orders, attempted to restore unity in the team and in the process Mushtaq was fired. Although a full explanation has not been given, it is likely that Mushtaq's close friendship with Inzamam-ul-Haq - banned for four matches - had a bearing on his removal.

Mushtaq denied that it would have been because of the match-fixing allegations against him, which led Justice Quyyum - who led an inquiry into that issue - to doubt Mushtaq's conduct though he did not find any evidence.

"I don't think that is quite true," Mushtaq said. "Nobody objected when I was the national team's bowling coach in the series against England and India. I would like to believe that my tenure was quite successful. I would seek answers over my removal."