NEWS
OPINION
GALLERY
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS

Akram in sole charge, Sarfaraz axed

The Pakistan Cricket Board has unanimously approved the resignation of coach Javed Miandad, thus putting an end to speculation that the former Test star would make a last minute return to the ranks.

Simultaneously, Pakistan's 13-member cricket council approved the appointment of Richard Pybus as technical coach.

Miandad for his part went back on the "family commitments" reason he had given for his resignation, and indicated that he had other reasons for his abrupt exit.

"At no stage was I consulted (about hiring of Pybus). In fact, the players were consulted and I only came to know about this development through my sources," Miandad told the Pakistan media. "All I know is that players did not want me," Miandad said, acknowledging that his exit had come about because of differences with senior players.

Miandad confirmed that he had a confrontation with senior players during last month's Sharjah Cup, after the team lost to England in a league game. Miandad, who accused his players of deliberately playing below par, said he resigned because he felt he would be ousted before the World Cup at the insistence of the players.

"I resigned because, if the players don't want me, how can I extract the best out of them? So I decided to quit and allow the players to give their best and regain the title," said Miandad.

"The council didn't ask him (Miandad) to reconsider his decision because he resigned on his own," a PCB spokesman said. "The board would have negotiated with him only if he had come (to it) to explain his problems prior to making the decision."

Board chairman Khalid Mahmood and chief executive Majid Khan stayed away from the media briefing on Sunday. In retrospect, the absenteeism made sense, given that the media was extremely hostile to the PCB and inclined to take up the cudgels on behalf of Miandad.

A PCB spokesman told the media that "Miandad's resignation was accepted in the better interest of the team and the country's future prospects. But the council accepted his resignation with a heavy heart."

In a series of related moves, the PCB gave skipper Wasim Akram full authority on and off the field, and indicated that Pybus will only serve as the captain's assistant.

Akram and team manager Zafar Altaf will comprise the selection committee during the tournament. Akram will also decide team strategy and tactics.

More importantly, controversial fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz, who was appointed bowling coach to the side, has been dropped.

Sarfaraz also faces an inquiry, for breaching the code of conduct with his allegations against Javed Miandad.

The PCB said it would announce cash incentives for the Pakistan team, before the World Cup begins on May 14.

Agencies