New Pakistan coach to be named on short-term basis: Najam Sethi

Karachi – The acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi has informed the members of the interim management committee (IMC) that a new coach would only be appointed on a short-term basis after the conclusion of the series against Sri Lanka in the UAE.

A reliable source said that at the recent meeting of the interim committee the issue of appointing a new coach after the exit of Australian Dav Whatmore cropped up and was than discussed in detail.

“Former Test captain, Zaheer Abbas raised this issue as Whatmore is due to leave after the Sri Lanka series in February,” the source said.

The interim management committee got an extension of 90 days from the Prime Minister last week.

The IMC, which includes former Chairman of the board, Shaharyar Khan, Zaheer Abbas, test player, Haroon Rasheed and former manager of the Pakistan team, Naved Cheema, has been tasked by the Prime Minister to run Pakistan cricket affairs until fresh elections are held.

Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif three months back superseded the board constitution to appoint the IMC to run cricket affairs.

“Sethi told the IMC members that due to the legal issues in the Islamabad High Court and shortage of time before the Asia Cup and World T20 Cup in Bangladesh the board would appoint a coach on short term basis,” the source said.

“Sethi didn’t name the candidate he had in mind for this temporary position but made it clear it would be a Pakistani,” the source added.

Other members of the IMC advised Sethi to carefully vet possible candidates before recommending any names as the coaching position was an important one.

“Sethi was also told at the meeting that the players would be more comfortable working under a local coach and there were many Pakistani players who were better than foreign coaches. One member also noted that the best results for Pakistan cricket came during tenures of local coaches,” the source said.

Although indications are strong that Sethi might decide to appoint former captain, Moin Khan as the interim coach and appoint a new manager in his place but the source said that some IMC members had expressed some reservations over the former wicketkeeper batsman.

The source said the PCB is waiting for the legal issues to be sorted out this week and will announce the new coach early next month.