LAHORE: Pakistan cricket teams bowling coach Waqar Younis will return to Pakistan after the first Test against New Zealand to meet his family, whom he has not met since June.

Waqar Younis had requested the team management to be granted leave so that he can spend additional time with his immediate family, which will be in Lahore before returning to Sydney, Australia, on January 17.

Waqar will rejoin the side in time for the series against South Africa, which starts with the first Test in Karachi on January 26.

Pakistan manager Mansoor Rana said on Tuesday: “Considering Waqar has not seen his family since June and taking into account that our home series against South Africa, which follows the series against New Zealand, doesn’t finish until February 14, we took a pragmatic view of his request and have allowed him to return home early so that he can spend additional time with his wife and children.

“If he had returned to Lahore with the side after the second Test, he would have only got a week to spend with them.

For all of us, families always come first and we have in the past made similar exemptions so that our team members are able to achieve the correct work-life balance.”