September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 8: Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson will come under the scanner as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to discuss their role in the team at the upcoming governing body meeting on Sept 13.

The meeting has gained significance as by that time a new president would have been elected and in his capacity as chief patron of cricket, he will have the authority to appoint a new chairman and set-up.

Sources said in the changed scenario following the resignation of Dr Nasim Ashraf as chairman, there are number of members in the governing body who do not favour having Malik as captain or a foreign coach.

”In the past at such meetings these members were very vocal but the chairman used to get around them as he was adamant that the captain and coach should be given a long run,” one member said on condition of anonymity.

“But now these members believe with a new set up expected in the board it is the right time to also go for a new team management as Malik does not have the confidence of senior players and Lawson has shown he needs more time to deliver results,” the member said.

However, Malik made it clear that he is not bothered about this debate on his captaincy.

“Look I never asked for the captaincy it was given to me. I took it as a challenge and whether we are playing cricket or not, the betterment of Pakistan cricket is always my first priority,” Malik said.

“I don’t indulge myself in the discussion whether I should remain captain or not. I try to give my 100 per cent be it batting, bowling, fielding or leading the team. I always take criticism positively as long as it is professional. When someone gets personal, then the person’s ability vanishes from the eyes of the critic. It is in God’s will to give a person respect,” Malik said.

Although the governing body meeting has been convened to primarily give approval to a planned series in South Africa by Pakistan if it materialises, but sources say a lot of other cricket issues are expected to be discussed in depth.

To complicate the captaincy issue, senior batsman Younis Khan has also now conveyed his interest in captaincy if it is offered to him again.

Younis had refused the captaincy after last year’s World Cup debacle prompting the board to ignore seniors like Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf and instead repose faith in the young Malik.—Agencies