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Pakistan look to Boycott for coach

Pakistan's ad hoc cricket committee, running the game in place of the suspended Pakistan Cricket Board, has widened its net when it comes to seeking a new coach for the side.

Mujib ur Rehman, interim head of the ad hoc committee, said he is still awaiting word from former South African coach Bob Woolmer, who had been approached to take up the assignment. Woolmer has, however, told the media that he is not interested in the offer.

The committee has also contacted former England opener Geoffrey Boycott with an offer to be team coach, sources indicate. Another on the committee short list is former Australian skipper Ian Chappell.

The team has been without a coach for some time now. Javed Miandad was supposed to coach the side through the World Cup, but quit following reported differences with skipper Wasim Akram and other senior players. Following that, Mushtaq Mohammed was given another tenure, but resigned the post following Pakistan's humiliating defeats to India, in the Super Six phase, and Australia in the finals of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Rehman after a meeting with CBFS boss Abdur Rehman Bukhatir agreed to let the national team take part in a triangular tournament in Sharjah in October, also featuring the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan had threatened to pull out following a dispute on payments. It is learnt that the CBFS has agreed to a 40 per cent increase in the appearance money, following which the Pakistan cricket boss agreed to permit the team to play.

The CBFS will thus pay the Pakistan board an additional $100,000 per match, this sum to be earmarked for cricket development in the country.