Alam and Co to meet on Sep 29 to decide Pak coach

Lahore: The four-member committee headed by former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam will meet on September 29 to shortlist candidates for the position of head coach amid security concerns over the recruitment of a foreigner for the top job.

"The committee will meet in Karachi on September 29 to review all the applications and shortlist some candidates whose names will then be forwarded to the board for final appointment," said Alam. He added that the board has got good response to the advertisement for the appointment of a new coach for the national team following Waqar Younis` decision to step down from the post after Zimbabwe tour. Alam, however, admitted that security of the foreign recruit, if considered for the job, will remain a point to be discussed. The former cricketer also refused to divulge the details of the applicants. "So far we have got applications from local and some foreign coaches in response to the advertisement put out by the board for the coaching position. I can`t name them now but they are capable people," Alam said "The security issues will be a major talking point, if foreigners are shortlisted, for the board to consider for appointment," he added. Alam said if necessary the committee, which also includes Zaheer Abbas, Rameez Raja and Naushad Ali, can approach any candidate directly who may not have applied for the position and discuss things with him. Sources said former cricketer turned commentator, Rameez Raja, is busy in contacting some potential candidates and will give his feedback to the committee at the next meeting. PTI