July 02, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 16, 1428

LAHORE, July 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has failed to announce the name of Pakistan team’s new coach as well as the list of players who were to be given the central contract on July 1.

The PCB interviewed three Australians coaches including Dav Whatmore, Geoff Lawson and Richard Done in June for the post of Pakistan coach which has been lying vacant since the tragic death of Bob Woolmer in March during the 2007 World Cup at the West Indies. Woolmer's three-year contract with the PCB also expired on June 30 this year.

The PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf has announced on several occasions that the next coach and the new performance-based central contracts would be finalised by July 1. However, no development has been made in this regard as yet.

When contacted, a PCB spokesman said that the delay had been caused by the chairman’s visit to England where he will be watching Pakistan’s matches against Scotland and India at the invitation of Prince Charles.