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As expected, Javed Miandad has been sacked as Pakistan team coach after their poor tour of New Zealand. Yet again Miandad's falling out with senior players such as Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan and Waqar Younis has dethroned him.

"It hurts because you put in so much effort and get this in reward," a clearly upset Miandad told BBC Sport Online on Wednesday.

"I left the post before and I was ready to leave the post now if it was in the best interest of Pakistan cricket," he said.

Miandad's ability with the bat was never in doubt.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said it was a hard decision to make.

"I know Miandad is hurt but I will try to convince him why we did what we did and use him as my advisor," said Zia.

Miandad had been appointed by Zia as coach until the 2003 World Cup.

But he took Geoff Boycott's short stint of coaching as a threat to his job and was one of the two advisory council members who vetoed Boycott's hiring.

The 43-year-old from Karachi has been popular among fans but not with Pakistan players.

He may have been Pakistan's most successful batsman, but he was neither a success managing players, nor dealing with money.

"I don't do coaching for money its my internal desire to pass on my skill to junior players and money has never been a matter," he said.

But reports contradict his statement.

Just two days before England arrived in Pakistan in October, seven senior players revolted against Miandad over sharing of prize money.

"Every where in the world coach has a share in prize money and if players have any complaints they should go to the cricket authorities," he said at the time.

Pakistan, favourites against England, lost the final Test to lose the series 1-0 and it was an open secret that no player took Miandad's advice in the Karachi defeat.

"It hurts because you put in so much effort and get this in reward," Miandad said.

In his playing days, he always got a cold shoulder from Imran Khan and on occasions had to step down as captain because of Khan's influence.

Once Khan hung up his boots, Miandad had serious differences with Khan's protegy Wasim Akram.

Miandad came into the coaching job with impressive credentials. He had played 124 Tests, scored 8832 runs and deserved his place among the batting greats.

But the man management factor was his downfall.

He irked senior players by trying to change their technique and Pakistan lost to Australia and minnows Zimbabwe on home grounds.

During his first stint in 1998 he tried his best to clean the match-fixing rot but relinquished the job ahead of the 1999 World Cup in England.

At that time Miandad cited personal reasons for quitting.

Zia called him again in March last year and he was tagged `Mr Fix it' after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka and won four one-day tournaments in a row.

The breach then started to widen.

"Let the people think what they think, I had no problem with players and will regain the job for the England tour," he vowed.

But the doors seem closed for Miandad.

© Dawn