PCB yet to take decision on Mushtaq's coach job

'It is true that Mushtaq's credentials are strong ...but the final decision would only be made by the ad-hoc committee' - Shaharyar Khan, the board Chairman © Getty Images

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet taken any decision on retaining Mushtaq Ahmed, the legspinner, as the assistant coach of the senior team for the home series against India. According to Shaharyar Khan, the board Chairman, although Mushtaq worked as a bowling analyst in the one-day series against England only the ad-hoc committee was authorised to take a decision on retaining and promoting him as assistant coach of the senior team.

"We have taken no decision on the assistant coach so far. It is true that Mushtaq's credentials are strong and he did a good job against England according to the team management. But we have some other candidates in mind and the final decision would only be made by the ad-hoc committee," he said.

Mushtaq was first selected as a member of the Pakistan squad for the Test series against England but was then dropped for the five one-dayers. But the Board on the recommendation of the team management then appointed him as a bowling consultant. Shaharyar said the next meeting of the ad-hoc committee would be held soon when all members were available. "Obviously we would want to reach a decision on this issue before the first Test against India from January 13," he said.

However, although Inzamam-ul-Haq and Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, both support the appointment of Mushtaq as the assistant coach there is a hitch to this happening on a permanent basis because Mushtaq has a lucrative playing contract with English county Sussex and is signed up for them next season. "We have to see whether he can make himself available for the Pakistan team's tours to Sri Lanka and England after the home series against India because their dates clash with the county season which runs from April to September," another board official said.

He also maintained that not everyone in the board or the ad-hoc committee was in favour of appointing an assistant coach with the team as they felt that this post was not really necessary in the presence of a well paid and full-time professional coach in Woolmer. "The coach is someone who should be able to manage everything," the source said.