September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 8: Pakistan cricket team coach Geoff Lawson has once again left the country rather abruptly for a ten-day leave, giving rise to speculations that he may end his two-year contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) prematurely.

Lawson had already availed a ten-day leave last month when he accompanied the ICC task force Down Under to convince the Australian players to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy which was later deferred till 2009 due to security concerns of five participating teams.

A PCB spokesman said on Monday that Lawson would have to return to Pakistan on Sept 17 as leave was granted subject to the said condition.

Since there are no tournaments being played at the moment, Lawson opted to return home, the spokesman said.

If Pakistan decides on any alternate series after the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy, Lawson would be with the national team to perform his duties, the spokesman clarified.

However, reliable sources told Dawn that according to the agreement signed with Lawson in 2007, the PCB could terminate his contract without paying him any hefty remuneration, but only after Sept 30, 2008.

The former chairman of PCB, Dr Nasim Ashraf, who hired Lawson as coach after the death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup 2007, had categorically specified that during the Asia Cup, Lawson would not be sacked but he was waiting for September 2008 to end his contarct without having to pay a substantial compensation to the coach.

Sources said Lawson was also not happy with his assignment as he had strained relations with the national selectors.

In the last meeting with the selectors for picking up 15 players for the Champions Trophy, Lawson boycotted the proceedings twice, rasising serious objections over the selection of all-rounder Shahid Afridi and some other players.

Agencies add: The PCB has played down national coach Geoff Lawson’s decision to leave abruptly for Australia on Monday. “He will be back later this month,” PCB spokesman Mansoor Sohail said. “His annual leaves were due and there’s nothing more to it,” Sohail said.

“If the series against Sri Lanka materialises, Lawson will surely come back much earlier and join the team,” he added.

Local media have reported that Lawson’s position may be in doubt in the new-look PCB after chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf resigned on Aug 18, just hours after the organisation’s patron President Pervez Musharraf stepped down as Pakistan leader.

The PCB’s new patron — President Asif Ali Zardari — is expected to name a new chairman later this month.

“I have no insecurities,” Lawson was quoted as saying in a national daily on Sunday.

Lawson, who took over the Pakistan coaching duties in July 2007, steered the national team to the final of inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last year.

Under Lawson’s coaching, Pakistan lost both Test series at home against South Africa and one against India in India last year. This year, Australia was expected to tour Pakistan, but the tour was postponed due to security concerns.