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. “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 here. “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 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 BD last month. Mohsin’s tenure was extended for the Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 series against England that commences from Jan 17 in the UAE.
I’ll never accept captaincy: Afridi
Pakistan’s all-rounder Shahid Afridi has claimed that he will never accept captaincy of the team in the future after having a bitter experience of leading the team. “I won’t take the job even if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offers it to me,” he reported to have said. The veteran player stated, “After the way I was treated last year I was heartbroken and I have decided never to be the captain again and to just carry on as a ordinary member of the team and do whatever I can for the team as a senior player. I don’t want to be sacrificed time and again over the captaincy issue.” Afridi was captain of the Pakistan cricket team in ODI and Twenty20 cricket until the first quarter of last year. He led the team to the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011, but lost to arch rivals India in a tough clash. The veteran further added, “While playing in the UAE I did my best to ensure the environment remained good and even when I was captain I used to make every effort to ensure that the dressing room atmosphere remained good.”