The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Saturday extended the tenures of captain Waqar Younis and coach Mudassar Nazar until March next year, ending speculation that Englishman Richard Pybus is about to return as coach. ``We have decided to retain Waqar Younis as captain and Nazar as coach until the home series against the West Indies that ends in early March next year,'' PCB chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia said.
When asked about the possible return of Pybus, he said, ``Pybus is presently not in the fray because of the political uncertainty in the region and he is currently low on our priority list.''
Nazar, 45, was appointed to the hot seat in October after Pybus refused to join the Pakistan camp in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent US riposte in neighbouring Afghanistan, which heightened regional insecurity.
Nazar is Pakistans ninth coach in the last four years.
``The combination of Younis and Nazar has united the team and they deserve an extension purely on merit, Zia said.
Whether the tenure of Younis and Nazar would be extended to the World Cup in 2003 would depend on performance, the general said.
``If Younis keeps himself fit, he remains our top priority as captain for the World Cup and as far as Nazar is concerned, we need to finalize certain modalities for his term until the World Cup,'' he said.
Pakistan tours Bangladesh in early January for two Tests and three one-dayers and then hosts the West Indies for three Tests and as many limited over games.
Younis said that while he had never chased after the captaincy, he considered leading Pakistan a great honour.
``I take the extension as an incentive because it keeps me motivated and hungry to do even better. I am training hard and trying to keep myself going,'' he said.
``I am being considered as captain for the World Cup which makes me proud. But I have to spend more time in the field as captain. I need to learn a lot and prove my worth.''

Bureau Report