LAHORE: Intikhab Alam, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board`s (PCB) coach-hunt committee, has confirmed that a list of six shortlisted candidates has been sent to the board’s chief in order to seek his views before calling approved names for interviews.
The committee had earlier shortlisted five candidates for the position of head-coach and a list was sent to the former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. However, a change at the helm not only delayed the appointment but also forced the committee to send in a fresh list.
Former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who resigned from his post at the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this week, remains a front-runner to get the nod but Intikhab said that candidates will be called in for interviews after the approval of Zaka Ashraf.
Five positions, six candidates
“We held a meeting for the purpose of finding Pakistan’s new coach and we’ve finalised six candidates after going through the applications for various coaching positions of the national squad,” Intikhab told reporters in Lahore. “There will be separate coaches for the bowling, batting and fielding departments, along with a head coach and whoever is appointed will be given a two-year contract.”
The PCB has kept its faith in former chief selector Mohsin Khan since the resignation of Waqar Younis, who stepped down after the tour of Zimbabwe. Mohsin, so far, has lead Pakistan to clean sweeps of two tours – against Sri Lanka in the UAE and against Bangladesh last month.
Mohsin`s tenure was extended for the Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 series against England that commences from January 17 in the UAE.
