Atiq uz Zaman is not limited to the description of "ex-professional cricketer who has played Test, ODI, and First Class levels." He presently serves as the head of cricket at St. Joseph's College in Ipswich and is a batting scout for England and the England Lions. He has extensive coaching experience and a deep understanding of the sport.
The following phrases best describe Atiq's experience: ex-Lead Wicket-keeping and Fielding Coach of the National High-Performance Centre at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Head of Cricket at St. Joseph College, and owner of AUZ Sports Academy Ltd.
The former Pakistani cricketer also helped SSGC become a top-tier national side and fostered numerous young male and female players who are now competing at the highest level in Lancashire, Pakistan, or other counties.
His contributions to cricket go beyond just one team; in order for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Lahore Qalandars, and Lancashire Cricket to be where they are now, Atiq has been instrumental in creating settings that are beneficial for teaching.
The circuit allowed Atiq, who was employed by NHPC and offered his coaching skills, to make advancements. But he made the decision to leave the job because the "Pakistani" system was ineffective for him and made his efforts pointless.
Recently, the newly appointed PCB chairman has given foreign coaches priority, claiming that indigenous coaches are "not enough qualified" to do their jobs. Many people don't seem to be amused by the statements, including Atiq and his wife.
Koshish ki thi kai nizam main shamil ho ker behter laoon magar nahin hua to job chorh di.
— Atiq-uz-Zaman (@Atiq160Test) December 26, 2022
Dosri job nahin thi phir bhi chorh di.
Es kai liye strong values ka hona or jiger ka hona zaroori hai. Mubarak ho new regime ko aur InshaAllah umeed hai kai behtri aye.
The ex-player took it to Twitter and wrote under Najam's 'foreign coaches' statement that,
"Only Foreign coaches are not level 4 qualified."
They are not qualified coaches, Najam about Mushtaq-Yousuf#Cricket | #Pakistan | #NajamSethi | #Lahore https://t.co/pMDJigft2f
— Khel Shel (@khelshel) December 23, 2022
His wife has expressed her strong support for him by highlighting his accomplishments. She wrote about the Pakistan Women's team under Mark Coles' leadership at the time in a paradoxical manner because he is likely to be named as the Women's Team's next coach.
She penned,
"Isn't this the coach that was given the option to resign the woman's team or be sacked previously due to mental health problems that PCB found out about, and he was banned from coaching in his own country due to these reasons 1/2
Mr Najam has said he needs qualified level four coaches here is a perfect match for what you're looking for. Mr Atiq uz Zaman. Have you seen his CV ? He's level 4,MA in sports coaching,Lancashire women's and men's coach ,ECB Scout ,coached at PCB what else he needs."
