Pakistan eye short-term coaches

Barry Richards and Greg Chappell have both expressed an interest in taking up short-term coaching stints with the Pakistan Cricket Board. According to a report in The News, both men - who attended an Asian Cricket Council development seminar in Lahore recently - were open to the idea of selective 30-day contracts.

"Basically, they are willing to have a contract where they would be committed to Pakistan cricket for 30 days but with their assignments spread out," said the daily, quoting a board official. "We have the option of using their expertise anywhere in the National Cricket Academy (NCA), seminars and with the Pakistan team."

The official also suggested that the assignments would be flexible. "They will be available to us for 30 days," he said. "Now, say some of our batsmen in the senior team are having problems; we can ask Richards or Chappell to come down and hold a seven-day special clinic with them to sort out their problems and work on other details."

Meanwhile, Daryl Foster, the Australian bowling coach, is expected to be in Pakistan on June 24, in order to take up an assignment at the National Cricket Academy. His tasks will involve working out a syllabus and also setting up a bio-mechanics department.