Moin's contract extended until next year

Karachi, Dec 10: The PCB has extended Moin Khan's captaincy contract upto next year's tour to England, a top official said. Moin Khan was initially assigned to lead the Pakistan cricket team until the home series against England which concludes on Monday. According to the fresh sixmonth contract, Moin will now skipper the team in New Zealand, Sharjah and England.

Pakistan will play three Tests and as many onedayers in New Zealand, take on India and Sri Lanka in Sharjah, and finally meet England in two Tests, followed by a triangular one-day series to be contested by Australia besides the host nation.

Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said from Lahore that the cricket managers were satisfied with the way Moin had handled the team. "Of course, there is always room for improvement and I am sure with Moin being a fighter and a keen learner, he will quickly master the art of marshalling his troops and take the right decisions at the right time."

Moin replaced Saeed Anwar for the third Test against Sri Lanka in March this year. Since then, he has led Pakistan in nine Tests (excluding the ongoing one), winning three and losing the controversial one at St John's, Antigua, where the West Indies won by one wicket.

Under Moin, Pakistan also won the triangular competitions in Sharjah, West Indies and Dhaka (Asia Cup) but returned winless from the threenation tournament in Sri Lanka. In the ICC knochout tournament in Kenya, Pakistan lost to eventual champions New Zealand in the semifinals.

Likewise, Inzamam-ul-Haq also gets a similar extension as vice-captain which the general said would be reviewed after the England tour.

"Obviously we would like Moin, Inzamam and Javed Miandad combination to continue until the 2003 World Cup. But we have decided to monitor the performances and go either series-by-series or by offering six months contracts," the PCB boss said.

The general admitted that he was disappointed like thousands of Pakistan cricket fans with the home team's performance. "Naturally, we expected a better performance from our boys. It has been a difficult series for everyone.

"We would evaluate in length the factors that proved crucial in the outcome of the series. Of course, the team management will also be invited for the summit," Zia said. Moin Khan said he was delighted with the news.

"Naturally you feel proud and honoured when the administrators keep faith in your abilities. I know I have not been upto my best. But I am learning with every match, every situation and every day," Moin said at the National Stadium on Sunday.

"If you get the confidence and support from the board hierarchy, you tend to improve," Moin, who toured England in 1996 as Wasim Akram's deputy, said.

Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said Moin deserved to be the leader because he has a cricketing brain and is a shrewd operator. "He thinks fast and positive.

"The greatest asset of Moin Khan is that he is a very good communicator. He has a great equation with all the boys. It helps him get the best out of them. I have seen great players fail as captains chiefly because they didn't have a great understanding or communication with their colleagues," Miandad remarked.

Miandad conceded that he has enjoyed working with Moin Khan. "I have worked with quite a few players but Moin is something special. He is always listening and keen to improve his professional skills and additional duties."

Moin has played 60 Tests (current game not included) scoring 2,391 runs with three centuries and 15 half centuries. He has accounted for 127 batsmen behind the wickets. He also holds the world record of highest number of dismissals in one-day cricket - 250 in 185 games.