Karachi: The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during its meeting this week has shortlisted three candidates to take over as head coach of the national team for Asia Cup and World T20 Cup being held in Bangladesh in next three months.
"The interim committee discussed the issue of appointing a new coach after Australian Dav Whatmore leaves after the Sri Lanka series and the names of Moin Khan, Mohsin Khan and Waqar Younis were discussed in detail," a source close to the IMC told PTI.
The source said that the Chairman of the IMC discussed the issue of a new coach with members Shaharyar Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Haroon Rasheed and Naveed Cheema who agreed that a decision was required as the two major tournaments, Asia Cup and World T20 were looming ahead in Bangladesh.
"What was agreed upon was that due to the uncertain situation in Pakistan cricket and the board it was best that for now a interim coach should be appointed for just the two tournaments," the source said.
"It was decided that a long term coach for the 2015 World Cup should be appointed later on or the interim coach should be retained since there was also a gap of around four to five months after World T20 Cup before Pakistan played its next international assignment in October against Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe," the source added.
He said that the IMC agreed upon the names of Moin Khan, Mohsin Khan and Waqar Younis as possible candidates for the interim coaching position but a decision will be taken after talks are held with the trio.
Interestingly, the Islamabad high court restored Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman yesterday but a source in the board said for the time being the IMC also remained functional.
"It remains to be seen what transpires in next few days in PCB but for now the IMC has shortlisted these three names."
Whatmore has announced that he will not seek an extension to his two year coaching contract when it expires in February.
Mohsin and Waqar have served as national coaches in the past, in fact, Mohsin was replaced by Whatmore in March, 2012. Moin is presently manager of the Pakistan team.
PCB asks Australia to drop a Test and play three ODIs
PCB asks Australia to drop a Test and play three ODIs
Karachi: The Pakistan cricket Board has said that it will be hosting three one-day internationals and probably a T20 match against Australia later this year instead of a test match.
"Yes we have asked cricket Australia to drop one test and instead play three ODIs and we are also trying to have a T20 match against them when the series is held in October-November," a board official told PTI.
Pakistan was originally scheduled to play just a three-test series against Australia as part of its home series but the official said financial requirements had forced them to ask the Australians to drop a test and instead play three one-day matches.
"With no test team playing in Pakistan since 2009 because of security concerns we have been forced to play our home series at neutral venues and obviously we have to use every opportunity to cover our costs as well maximize our profits from these series," the official said.
He said this was the reason for asking the Australians to drop a test and play the three limited over games.
"We have also requested them to play a T20 match but that is not final as yet and will depend on the entire tour schedule but now only two tests will be played in October," he said.
The official also said that the series against Australia would be played in the United Arab Emirates and there was no other alternate available as a neutral venue.
He said the series against Australia would be followed by home series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe in the UAE.
"We are planning to play two tests against New Zealand and three against Zimbabwe in these series besides the limited over games," he said.
