March 9, 2006	Thursday	Safar 8, 1427

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LAHORE, March 8: Former Pakistan greats Zaheer Abbas and Waqar Younis have been appointed manager and bowling coach of the national team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.

Zaheer was appointed for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka, starting from March 12, while Waqar, former captain and toe-crusher, till World Cup-2007 with additional responsibilities of coaching bowlers of the Pakistan ‘A’, Junior and Academy teams.

Shaharyar M. Khan, the PCB chairman, while announcing the appointments, declared that ex-first-class cricketer Shahid Aslam would be assistant manager-cum-coach for the Sri Lankan tour.

The PCB chief said that though Zaheer had a role as manager he could also help the Pakistan batsmen in overcoming technical faults. The chairman said Waqar would also train the bowlers of the ‘A’, Under-19 and Academy teams and it was not necessary that the great fast bowler travel with these teams.

The chairman said Waqar might be visiting Sri Lanka for some days.

He said Waqar would not be allowed to do commentary for any TV channel during his PCB assignment.

He refused to disclose the monetary package offered to Waqar but added that it was almost equal to a central-contracted player in ‘A’ category.

He ruled out chances of any controversy erupting with the inductions of Zaheer and Waqar. “I don’t expect such a situation arising since all are professionals and responsible personalities who have been taken into confidence and have sit together,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman held detailed meetings with Zaheer and Waqar before announcing the decision.

Zaheer said his new role as team manager was a new beginning.

“It is a new beginning and if PCB and I find that the job has been done well in Sri Lanka it might be continued for subsequent tours,” the veteran of 78 Tests and 62 ODIs said.

He said the boys were well-behaved and hopefully he would not have any problems to maintain discipline.

Waqar, who announced his retirement in 2004 after leading Pakistan through a disastrous campaign at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, said that he had not decided any specific plan about the new job.

He added that his first priority was to help the bowlers to curtail the extras.

Waqar, who captured 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 in 262 ODIs, said he would sit with chief coach Bob Woolmer to discuss other problems of the bowlers.

Waqar had turned down a short-term job as bowling coach last year at the time when Pakistan were touring India.

Woolmer, who arrived in Lahore to join the short training-camp, started at the Qadhafi Stadium on Wednesday, welcomed the appointments of Zaheer and Waqar.