12:34pm Thursday 25th February 2010
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has ruled out the appointment of a foreign coach for the national team.
Pakistan cricket was plunged into more turmoil after losing all of their international matches against Australia on a tour to the country earlier this year.
Although he hasn’t been formally sacked coach Intikhab Alam’s time in charge of the team is almost certainly over.
Alam did not join the team for their two Twenty20 internationals against England in Dubai earlier this month and the PCB have indicated he will be eased out of the role for a domestically-appointed coach.
”The full-time coach of the team will be from Pakistan,” Butt said.
”We are working on the concept of having a Pakistani coach and hiring foreign coaches as consultants for shorter period or from series to series.”
Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur was believed to be a front runner for the post, but Butt said the PCB had already finalised names and would announce the new coach soon.
”We have a few former players from Pakistan in mind and will select one of them,” he said.
Former pace bowler Waqar Younis had said he had already received an offer from the PCB.
Butt, however, clarified Waqar was only one of a few options for the job.
”Waqar is one of the candidates,” he said.
”We have not made a final decision as yet.”
Former wicketkeepers Moin Khan and Rashid Latif along with Pakistan’s under-19 coach Ijaz Ahmed, who led the team in Dubai, are also believed to be shortlisted for the post.
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