August 13, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 10, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 12: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson left the country in controversial manner on Monday night amid reports that he has quit as coach after serious differences with the national selectors over the composition of the Champions Trophy squad.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, however, denied the reports and said that Lawson had joined the task force for its visit to Australia, England and New Zealand on the cricket board’s request to convince the players to tour Pakistan.

“Since Lawson is living in Pakistan for the last one and half year, the ICC felt that he may be more useful in briefing the players who are reluctant to visit Pakistan. Therefore, they included him in the task force,” Naghmi said at a press conference.

His statement, however, was a contrasting one to that of ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat who said on Tuesday that the decision of joining the task force was taken by the coach himself.

When reminded, Naghmi told newsmen that they could clarify from Lorgat about the Lawson’s air ticket which, he said, was provided by the PCB.

Though the task force is likely to complete its tour of the three countries by August 18, Lawson would return to Pakistan on the 27th.

Asked why the PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, who was originally the part of the ICC task force, was not visiting the three countries alongwith other officials, Naghmi said it was felt that Lawson could play a better role compared to the chairman on the sensitive tour.

PCB chairman’s absence at this crucial juncture is also quite puzzling since the future of Pakistan cricket depends heavily on the successful staging of the Champions Trophy and the PCB is needed to be at full strength to convince all the teams to participate in the event.

To a question, Naghmi said there were no chances of New Zealand’s proposed visit to Pakistan from Aug 22 which included three ODIs.

Agencies add: “We have asked Geoff to join us in Australia and New Zealand when we present to stakeholders, including the player groups, the result of the task team visit,” an ICC spokesman said on Tuesday.

“As a former Australia Test player, a coach and someone who lives in Pakistan he is in a unique position to give his perspective to those stakeholders,” the spokesman added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also said that it had received an ICC request over Lawson’s trip.

“The ICC sent us a request 10 days ago and said they would fund Lawson’s around 12 days trip to Australia and New Zealand,” PCB Director Communications Mansur Sohail said on Tuesday.

“It is a very logical thing to do and hopefully it will assuage concerns of leading players and make up their minds to come here.”

Lawson’s departure did raise speculation about his future with the PCB sources saying Lawson had left after a dispute with the national selectors over the make-up of the final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy.

“He had differences with the selectors over the selection of some players and was not happy with the situation,” one source said.

Lawson has had issues with the selectors since he took over as coach last August and has publicly criticised them for having “ad-hoc” selection policies.

England captain Kevin Pietersen has also raised concerns over touring Pakistan and Lorgat said the task force will also be visiting England.

“We have got a series of visits that follow (the Pakistan evaluation),” Logart said.

“We go to Australia and New Zealand and speak to the (cricket) boards as well as the Players’ Association, and to the players themselves, and then visit England and let’s see what comes out.

“It is a big challenge (to convince the players), it’s upon us to convey the message and to raise the confidence,” he said.

“What we have seen and experienced is that the security arrangements in place should be sufficient to have the event safe and secure.”