Pak authorities delayed announcing the new captain and coach of in the wake of the World Cup debacle but promised selections would be finalised in a month's time.
KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket authorities delayed announcing the new captain and coach of the team in the wake of the World Cup debacle but promised selections would be finalised in a month's time.
Dr Naseem Ashraf told reporters after a meeting of the board's ad-hoc committee in Lahore that the captain and coach would be announced before the committee's next meeting scheduled on May 7.
"But the committee has decided very clearly that only that person would be made captain who commands a 100 per cent place in the team and is 100 percent fit. We will not compromise on these two areas," Ashraf said.
Ashraf's comments were a clear indication that he is supporting senior batsman, Younis Khan to replace Inzamam-ul-Haq who stepped down as captain following Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup and has also retired from One-day Internationals.
Although different lobbies are pushing for the appointment of young allrounder, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf for the coveted position, but Ashraf's remark show a tilt towards Youins.
Sources, however, say Younis remains reluctant to take up this responsibility for a number of reasons.
Younis it seems is not happy with the attitude of some players in the team and also believes he does not have 100 per cent backing from the public to take over as captain.
Ashraf also said that Pervez Mir who went to the World Cup as media manager no longer had a contract with the board and the comments he made before the probe committee inquiring into the team's poor performance was his personal opinion.
"His contract has expired with the World Cup. So what he said are his personal views," Ashraf said.
Mir accused the Pakistani players of focussing more on religious activities rather than on cricket in the tournament.
Ashraf also said the ad-hoc committee had decided that in future the new coach would be given a minimum contract of two years but it was premature to say if he would be a foreigner or Pakistani.
"We are looking at a number of candidates for this important position."
The coaching position in the team has been left vacant after the death of Bob Woolmer who died in Kingston, Jamaica one day after Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Ireland.
The Pakistan board also decided to name the practice area of the National cricket academy in Lahore in memory of Woolmer.
Ashraf also said all the board offices would be shifted elsewhere before the 2008 Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan.
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