June 18, 2007	Monday	Jumadi-us-Sani 02, 1428

BHURBAN, June 17: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday appointed Salman Butt as vice-captain of the national side till December.

Talking to reporters after a marathon session of the PCB ad hoc committee, Dr Nasim Ashraf, the cricket board chief, said Salman was the best choice keeping in view the future of Pakistan cricket.

He said the PCB had approved a budget of Rs2.44 billion for the next fiscal year out of which Rs650 million will be spent on the development of the game.

The PCB chief said an amount of Rs500 million has been earmarked for National Stadium Karachi, Rs250 million for Gaddafi Stadium and Rs150 million for the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Further, Rs1 billion will be spent on development of grounds over the next three years.

Dr Nasim pointed out that Rs80million has been set aside for development of pitches in the country. He further added that 90 pitches of international standard will be developed at 10 venues across the country.

He added Rs45 million has been allocated for women cricket while a substantial amount had also been earmarked for blind and deaf cricket.

“No amount had been set aside in the budget for a stadium in Islamabad as the feasibility study for the stadium is yet to be undertaken,” the PCB chairman remarked.

Dr Nasim said the PCB had shortlisted three Australians for the post of Pakistan coach, following the death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup in the West Indies last March.

Richard Done, one of the candidates was interviewed on Sunday and two other Australians, Dav Whatmore and Geoff Lawson, will shortly be interviewed. Both of them will be in Pakistan within a week.

"Done has been interviewed and in the final phase Whatmore and Lawson will be interviewed before making the final announcement shortly," the PCB chief said.

A three-member committee comprising Imtiaz Ahmed, Zakir Khan, who is also the PCB Director Operations, and Mudassar Nazar have shortlisted the list of coaches.

The central contracts of the players have also been approved with three categories of A amounting Rs3 million annually, B category Rs2.5 million and the C category Rs1.8 million, Dr Nasim announced.

The new central contracts are based on merit with 20 per cent marks will be given to players’ seniority, 40 per cent to performance during the last 12 months, 20 per cent to discipline and code of conduct and 20 per cent to the players’ fitness.

The PCB boss also said that the incentives of the players for the ODI matches have been doubled as an increase has been made in the ODI match fees.

He maintained that these are performance based central contracts as they will also run on ICC ranking of the players.

He said that those not selected in the national squad and they come under the top 30 in Pakistan and the left ones will be retained in second contract.

The ad hoc committee also approved that every player who is playing first class cricket will be given minimum Rs10,000.