Mudassar appointed coach until World Cup

Mudassar Nazar was Monday officially appointed as Pakistan coach until the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, a top cricket board official said.

"The understanding has been reached. Only the terms and references of the contract have to be finalized," Pakistan Cricket Board director Brig Munawwar Rana told Dawn from Lahore.

The PCB spokesman said he expected that Mudassar will formally sign the agreement before the Pakistan team embarks on the Bangladesh tour on Jan 2.

"Mudassar has good credentials for the job. Hopefully he will make a strong plan to prepare a good team for the World Cup," Rana said. "With the team as talented as Pakistan is, the expectations are certainly high. Mudassar and the PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia had very productive meetings spanning over two days in which both exchanged views and put on table what was expected from each other."

Mudassar, who also coached the Pakistan team on the 1993 tour to the West Indies, was last Friday given an extension until the home series against the West Indies in March.

The former Test opener had expressed mixed reactions over the news but minced no words in saying that he was only interested in a long-term contract, ideally until the World Cup.

Nevertheless, on Monday, he was a satisfied man and was straightforward in spelling out his ambitions and priorities.

"Top of my priority list is to change things around at home. We have had poor four last home series' and I have set myself a challenge to end the victory drought," Mudassar said from Lahore.

Pakistan, since 1998, have lost to Zimbabwe, Australia, Sri Lanka and England while their last home series victory was against the West Indies when Wasim Akram's men handed a 3-0 white-wash to Courtney Walsh's squad.

"World Cup is definitely important but before that a lot of cricket has to be played. I am not driving head-on for the World Cup only. I sincerely hope the West Indies and New Zealand come to Pakistan. That would help me shortlist me World Cup probables to 20, barring a one or two changes," he said.

Mudassar said he would go step-by-step and series-by-series but admitted that despite being given the job until the World Cup, he had fears in the back of his mind that he might be sacked prematurely if he failed to deliver.

"I don't mind being sacked if I don't deliver. But then the team's performance will depend how much the players keep themselves fit and keep themselves motivated.

"After having seen what has been going on lately, I feel the pressure and fear of losing the contract. But I am not keen to surrender. I intend to become the longest serving coach after Inti (Intikhab Alam."

Earlier, the PCB had appointed Javed Miandad and Moin Khan until the World Cup. But both met their Waterloo after the New Zealand tour and were sacked for different reasons.

Mudassar said he would not detach himself from academy. "I know I have to concentrate on the Pakistan team but then I have an emotional attachment with the academy as I was the first coach. Who knows maybe after four five years I return only as academy coach."

With the PCB taking the right decision in appointing Mudassar till the World Cup and giving him the cushion of confidence and support, it would not be a bad idea if same is done to Waqar Younis.

The paceman has been appointed till March with his future depending on his fitness and form. Waqar has been training extremely hard and his performance has been an inspiration for his boys.

By extending Waqar's contract until the World Cup, the two team officials will be able to think on a broader vision and chalk out their strategies according to their priorities. Needless to say that almost all the frontline teams have a established captain, coach combination until the World Cup.