PCB seeks Arther’s services

ISLAMABAD: Former Australian batsman and now Australian national team’s batting coach Stuart Law has communicated to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he has a busy summer and it would be almost impossible for him to join Pakistan national team as head coach in May.

Australia are to tour Sri Lanka from mid July. The tour will end on September 8, a day after Pakistan finish their summer trip of England.

The PCB is now trying to rope in former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur, who coached Karachi Kings during Pakistan Super League (PSL).

But the Board has not ruled out offering the job to Andy Moles of the UK. “Yes, Law is reluctant to join Pakistan team immediately as he is serving Cricket Australia as the batting coach. He is unlikely to be with our team for summer tour of England,” a PCB official said.

“Now we have approached Mickey Arthur and Andy Moles. We would prefer Arthur as Pakistan coach for at least England tour,” he said.

The official admitted that time was running out. “We are to organise a fitness camp in Abbottabad within a week. We want the new coach to join that camp at the earliest,” he said.

‘The News’ has learnt that Mickey Arthur could assume the charge in late May. “Mickey Arthur is most likely to train Pakistan team for the England tour,” said an official.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricket coach Muddassar Nazar is likely to be appointed as Director Academies PCB in coming future. ‘The News’ has learnt that Muddassar has submitted an application with the board, expressing his desire to take over the academy as head coach. “He has applied for the job and is a serious contender. We have decided to reorgansie academies and for that we need a quality coach and administrator,” said the official.