Waqar and Mudassar get extensions
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday gave Waqar Younis and Mudassar Nazar extensions until the home series against the West Indies
Samiul Hasan
08-Dec-2001
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday gave Waqar Younis
and Mudassar Nazar extensions until the home series against
the West Indies.
"The PCB has decided to retain Waqar Younis as captain and
Mudassar Nazar as coach until the home series against the
West Indies," chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told
Dawn from Lahore.
Waqar was initially named captain until the series against
New Zealand but got an automatic extension for next month's
Bangladesh tour after the Black Caps cancelled a scheduled
tour because of Sept 11 attacks.
Mudassar was last month appointed coach for the Sharjah
triangular series and for next month's tour to Bangladesh.
Pakistan ends its Bangladesh visit on Jan 26 while the West
Indies arrive on Jan 25 for a three-Test and an equal number
of one-day internationals. The Caribbean are scheduled to
conclude their 41-day tour with the final one-day
international at Karachi.
"Although the combination of Waqar and Mudassar has worked
in just one tournament, it appears to be a nice pair. The
two deserve extension purely on merit," the PCB chairman
said.
Waqar's men comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka in the
Sharjah final which, ironically, was Pakistan's first
international assignment since August.
"The two united their boys and played professionally (in
Sharjah). The performance of the team reflected that there
was some purpose and planning. "But the most enterprising
part is that they played like a team which is so very
crucial to our build up for the World Cup," Tauqir said.
Tauqir said Waqar's tenure upto the World Cup depended on
his fitness and form but added that he would talk to
Mudassar before awarding him a 12-month contract. "If Waqar
keeps himself fit, he remains our top priority.
"Mudassar's contract with the PCB expires in February. I
would certainly like to have him but before that certain
modalities have to be finalized. "I will discuss the subject
with him at the right time."
The general, however, dismissed the return of England-born
and South Africa-based Richard Pybus. "He is presently not
in the running because of political uncertainty in the
region," he said. But when pointed out that situation seems
to have eased out after the West Indies agreed to tour
Pakistan, Tauqir said: "True, but Richard is low on our
priority list."
Pybus coached Pakistan for two weeks before returning home
in the wake of terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.
However, insiders in the board say Pybus' demand of full
authority and objections on the working of the PCB has irked
the officials who have decided in principle to fall back on
a local man.
Mudassar, besides the current Pakistan side, has the support
of some of the best cricketers, including Imran Khan.
Mudassar, who returned from England last week, expressed
mixed reactions over his new assignment.
"I am happy but one series extension is injustice to the
team. Ideally, I would like to work until the World Cup and
the proposal of one series is neither attractive nor
acceptable to me," Mudassar said from Lahore.
Mudassar, however, admitted that he was scheduled to meet
the PCB boss tomorrow and his coaching contract was on the
agenda.
"I want to work with the team because I know I have the
credentials. For example, everyone saw my motivating power
in Sharjah where Wasim Akram emerged as a different bowler.
"This is a multi-talented team. All it needs is motivation
and backing which I think I can give.
"I will meet the chairman tomorrow with an open mind and I
am sure the negotiations will go in the right direction with
priority being the Pakistan team and Pakistan cricket,"
Mudassar said.
Waqar said he was honoured to have been entrusted with the
job and backed PCB's policy of appointing captain on seriesby-series. "I was never a worried man. I have never run
after captaincy. But now since I have been handed with the
job, I am enjoying it as an additional duty."
Waqar said PCB's policy of monitoring his performance before
awarding him extensions was an incentive for him. "I take it
as an incentive because it keeps me motivated and hungry to
do even better. I am training hard and trying to keep myself
going.
"I am being considered as captain for World Cup which makes
me proud. But I have to spend more time in the field as
captain. I need to learn a lot."