The PCB has advertised the job of Pakistan coach, and has set a 15-day deadline for applications. The three-man committee appointed to select the next coach, comprising ex-Pakistan players Zaheer Abbas, Intikhab Alam and Naushad Ali, met for the first time on September 8 to decide on the criteria for choosing candidates for the role.

Ramiz Raja, who had agreed to assist the committee, could not attend the meeting as he was in Zimbabwe, where he is a commentator for Pakistan's ongoing one-day series.

The committee said the job of Pakistan coach was open to candidates from both within and outside Pakistan. Alam, who coached and managed the national side before and is head of the committee, said PCB chairman Ijaz Butt had given them the freedom to choose whoever they wanted as candidates. "The PCB chairman briefed us prior to our meeting and has given us a free hand in the search for the national coach," Alam said. "We definitely will be considering both local and foreign applicants. The advertisement goes up today and will give interested parties 15 days to apply for the role.

"We will scrutinise and interview the candidates and then the PCB will announce the coach in light of our recommendations. Also, the committee can approach someone on their own if they want to." Alam also said that all the details of the meeting had been emailed to Raja, and confirmed that none of the committee members could themselves apply for the job.

The committee was appointed on August 29 following current coach Waqar Younis' announcement that he would quit after the tour of Zimbabwe due to personal and health reasons. There have been divided opinions on whether Pakistan should go with a local or foreign coach, with Abbas and Raja favouring the former while Alam said the second option was also something Pakistan should consider. Aaqib Javed and Mudassar Nazar, who have both been involved with coaching in Pakistan for several years, were two names that emerged as possible candidates for the role of head coach.