Unrest in dressing room? Controversies mar Pakistan's World Cup campaign

KarachiPakistans World Cup campaign hit another snag when the national teams fielding coach Grant Luden reportedly quit and then withdrew his resignation after complaining of misbehaviour from three senior playersEven before the tournament started eight members of Pakistans 15man squad including Shahid Afridi and Ahmed Shehzad were fined 300 each by team management for breaking a curfew Days later Pakistan suffered a 76run defeat by defending champions India in their tournament opener in Adelaide the teams sixth successive loss to their archrivals at the World CupInitial reports in the Pakistan media on Tuesday saidLuden had resigned after an argument with Afridi opener Shehzad and batsmancum wicketkeeper Umar Akmal following Sundays Pool B lossAccording to details in the incident which is yet to be confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB Luden complained that Shahid Afridi Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal had misbehaved with him during a training session on TuesdayALSO READICC World Cup Afridi among eight Pak players fined for partying lateLuden had sent a message to the PCB chairman threatening to resign as he could not tolerate such insulting behaviour from the players one source saidPakistani cricket team batting coach Grant Flower R and fielding coach Grant Luden L File PicAFPLuden apparently complained to Shahryar Khan that some of the players were not cooperating with him in the training sessions that hindered his workLuden has complained that the three players allegedly used abusive language on TuesdayLuden has in his message to Khan threatened that if the players dont change their behaviour he will resign from his postThe source said that after getting the message the PCB chairman had spoken to the team manager Naved Cheema head coach Waqar Younis and Luden and discussed the issue with themHe has assured Luden his concerns will be looked into and the players will not be allowed to misbehave in future the source addedInterestingly the training regime being implemented by Waqar and his team of coaches has already apparently become a sore point in the team with some players who have complained that they are left exhausted before matches by the tough scheduleThe team management is also under fire for their selections made for the opening match against India which Pakistan lost on SundayLuden a member of Pakistan coach Waqar Youniss backroom staff was hired as fielding coach in May last year on a twoyear contractBut the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB denied Luden had resigned after the India matchReports stating that there has been a tiff between three players Afridi Shehzad and Akmal and fielding coach Luden and that the latter has resigned because of it are absolutely false and that nothing of the sort has happened said a PCB statement issued on WednesdayThe entire team trained together in Christchurch on Tuesday under the supervision of head coach Waqar Younis with each of the other coaches where some players were put through their paces by all coaches with Luden putting in an extra hour on both days with a select group of players the statement addedNevertheless the PCB also admitted Luden had offered to resign before the World Cup startedA few days prior to the start of the World Cup 2015 Luden had expressed his desire that for personal reasons he would want to be relieved of his duties sometime in May 2015 the board statement saidSubsequently as his issues were resolved he took his resignation back The PCB and the team management as well as the boys hold the job he is doing in high esteem and are keen that he continues to serve in his present rolePakistan also has former Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower as its batting coach Pakistan continue their World Cup campaign against the West Indies in Christchurch on Saturday