Karachi: Pakistan cricket chiefs on Tuesday sacked national coach Mudassar Nazar after a recent series of dismal team performances and said they want to re-hire Richard Pybus.
"Nazar had a detailed meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia in Rawalpindi and has relinquished his duties and will revert to the National Cricket Academy coach in Lahore," a PCB spokesman said. Nazar, a former opening batsman, is the latest victim of a regular culling of coaches since 1997. Javed Miandad, Intikhab Alam, Richard Pybus (all sacked twice), Haroon Rahseed, Mushtaq Mohammad and Waseem Raja have come and gone in the past five years. "Pybus, who is being considered as the potential Pakistan coach, is arriving in Pakistan for preliminary talks on September 20 or 21," the spokesman said. South Africa-based Pybus refused to visit Pakistan in September last year over security fears. Pakistan failed to reach the final of the inaugural Morocco Cup last month and was thrashed by Australia by 224 runs and nine wickets in the Kenya tri-series in August- September. Last week it went down by eight wickets to hosts Sri Lanka in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy. Pakistan's steep decline, after beating Australia two-one in the Super Challenge series in Australia in June, generated widespread talk of a crisis in the team and rifts among players. Ace batsman Inzamam-ul Haq is out of the forthcoming Test series against Australia with a heel injury. Experienced players Waseem Akram and Saeed Anwar have opted out of the series, saying they need a break. The first Test starts in Colombo on October 3 while the second and third games will be played in Sharjah from October 11 to 15 and October 19 to 23. Pakistan's Golden Jubilee series was shifted to neutral venues after Australia declined to tour the country on security fears.
