Pakistan trainer resigns

Grant Compton, trainer for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and a key member of the staff that Bob Woolmer brought to Pakistan when he was appointed, has resigned from his post following differences with the PCB over his contract negotiations.

Compton's contract expired on December 31 last year and he was in discussions with the board over an extension to his term. A board official told Cricinfo that Compton's demands were unacceptable and thus any new contract was unlikely, therefore the chairman had accepted the resignation.

"I have tendered my resignation," Compton, who had been with the Pakistan board for over two years, told Cricinfo. But he was keen to assert that he hadn't made any demands and was disappointed with the way the issue had been handled.

"I feel, having worked here and enjoyed it for over two years that I was entitled to renegotiate my contract. I wasn't making any demands, I asked for a few things in the negotiations, nothing else. I thought I was worth a little bit more after the time I have been here and I just wanted to re-look at the contract and keep in mind things like inflation," Compton said.

"I've given 110% to this job and I love the job completely. I cannot stress how much I have enjoyed the experience of working in Pakistan with the players. It's been fantastic throughout and I guess I am just a little disappointed with the way the issue has been handled and that the media has revealed details of my contract which were meant to be confidential," Compton added, referring to newspaper reports which published his monthly salary as well as details of the negotiations.

Compton has worked extensively with Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul, among others, on their various injury problems. Most recently, he was assisting Shabbir Ahmed and Abdul Razzaq with their rehabilitation.

The resignation could mark the beginning of the end for the team that Woolmer brought with him when he was appointed as Pakistan coach in June 2004. Woolmer's own contract expires soon after the World Cup and though it hasn't been confirmed by either party, it is thought to be unlikely that he will continue with Pakistan after that. Daryn Lifsun and Murray Stevenson, the other members of the team, are also likely to leave with Woolmer.