22 December 2004	Wednesday	09 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: If the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chooses to sack its 80,000-pound-a-year coach Bob Woolmer in the first year of three, it will have to pay the Englishman 30 per cent of the remaining term of the contract.

Woolmer's contract, signed in July this year, had been a closely guarded secret before the PCB gave in to pressure last week from the Senate Standing Committee on Sports and revealed the details of the agreement.

Referred to as a "consultant" in the contract, Woolmer's termination, if it took place in the second year, would mean the PCB having to pay 40 per cent of the contract that remains.

Similarly, showing the consultant the door in the third year, would lead to the PCB paying 50 per cent of what remains of the contract. The coach, for whom a string of bonuses are on offer including an 80,000-pound award if Pakistan won the 2007 World Cup, is entitled to a cell phone with a monthly limit of Rs 10,000.

Apart from his daily allowance of $114 a day when touring abroad and a perdiem of Rs 3,000 when on tour within Pakistan, Woolmer can also have a chauffeur-driven car at his disposal, "as and when required" but not on an exclusive basis.

Woolmer and his spouse are also entitled to business class return air tickets each year for travel between South Africa and Pakistan, although the contract does not specify the number of tickets.

The contract does say that the "same route tickets" could also be utilised for other international sectors. "In addition, 50 per cent cost of the consultant's wife in economy class will be reimbursed by PCB on sectors when she joins the husband during tours."

The agreement also has confidentiality clause which bars the consultant from disclosing, during or after the expiry of the contract, any information regarding the dealing and affairs of PCB.

Two other foreigners associated with the team - physio South Africans Darryn Lifson and trainer Murray Stevenson - are also drawing hefty salaries besides several perks and privileges.

Lifson, who has an annual salary of 36,000 pounds, is to be provided two business class and as many economy class return air tickets each year for travel between South Africa and Pakistan with the option of these being utilised for other sectors.

On the other hand, Stevenson and his fiance are entitled to only two economy class return tickets on the same sectors as Lifson's with similar options. Now that the PCB has revealed all, critics, among them former coach Javed Miandad claim, that Woolmer has failed to deliver and that he would be unable to change the mindset of the players in the days ahead.

The latest to join the list of critics was the Federal Minister for Sports Muhammad Ajmal Khan, who said on Monday that he was against foreign coaches.