SYDNEY, July 2: Geoff Lawson conveyed a strong message to the Pakistan cricket squad about the hard work needed to make the team victorious when he was interviewed for the coach’s job last month.

Lawson believes Dav Whatmore, the former Bangladesh coach, is the favourite for the spot, also being followed by Richard Done.

“I won’t be surprised if I get it, I won’t be surprised if I miss out,” Lawson said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I wouldn’t have gone for the interview if I wasn’t keen. It would be a terrific challenge. Whatmore is obviously the front-runner, but I told (the Pakistan players) about the hard work that has to be done to make the team successful.

“I think they appreciate how the Australian approach to playing cricket is a successful one and that’s what they’re trying to tap into. I didn’t chase the job, so there isn’t much to lose if I don’t get it.”

Lawson added that he was waiting to hear from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about the appointment.

When he went for the interview in June the players were at a training camp in Abbottabad and Lawson was impressed with what he saw.—Agencies