Reverse sweep!: Moin Khan to don coaching gloves

PCB appoints former captain as head coach, Shoaib selected fielding coach.

KARACHI:

Within a week after losing the post of team manager, Moin Khan became head coach of the Pakistan team, surpassing former head coaches Waqar Younis and Mohsin Khan, who were dubbed as the main contenders.

The decision was taken in the first meeting of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Managing Committee (MC), headed by Chairman Najam Sethi on Tuesday in Lahore.

Another former Test batsman, Shoaib Mohammad, has been appointed as the fielding coach of the national team.

The MC refrained from choosing the batting coach. In its place, Zaheer Abbas – who is also a member of the recently formed committee – will supervise the batsman in his capacity as chief cricket consultant.

The decision to retain Mohammad Akram as the bowling coach for two years has been confirmed, while Zakir Khan was also retained as team manager.

The appointments have been made for the upcoming Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20, the PCB announced after the MC’s meeting.

Moin’s change in fortunes

Moin was appointed as the manager in August 2013 and served in the tour of Zimbabwe and the home and away series against South Africa. His last assignment in the position was another home series in the UAE against Sri Lanka.

The coach-hunt committee, including Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Intikhab Alam formed under Ashraf, met on Sunday and announced that as many as 25 coaches submitted their applications for the posts of head, batting and fielding coaches for the Pakistan team.

Moin, along with Waqar and Mohsin, had confirmed his desire for the high-profile job.

“It’s an honour for me,” said the elated former captain after being appointed as the head coach. “I will do my best in mentoring the team to ensure maximum victories for Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, Shoaib said he was ready to serve the national team. “Pakistan has given me everything and now it’s time to pay back,” the former player, who represented the country in 45 Tests and 63 ODIs, told The Express Tribune.

“I will give my best in bringing improvement in fielding, which is a vital part of the game.”

Younis welcomed Moin’s appointment, hoping that his former teammate would coach the team to Asia Cup and World T20 titles.

Sohail shown the door

Aamir Sohail, who was appointed chief selector by Ashraf’s regime, has been shown the door without getting close to selecting even a single team.

Former cricketer Azhar Khan has been named as the acting chief selector.

Moreover, Mohammad Ilyas has also been removed as the chief selector for junior squads.

“They were not issued appointment letters, hence their appointment was never confirmed,” said a PCB official.

In another major decision, Tafazzul Rizvi, who was sacked by Ashraf as the PCB legal advisor, was also reinstated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2014.

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