LAHORE: Former captain Moin Khan was on Monday handed an unprecedented three-in-one job by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) when he was named as the chief selector-cum-manager of the national team besides being included as member of the coach-finding committee of the Board.

It appeared as pretty much a one-man show here as PCB chairman Najam Sethi saddled his favourite pupil Moin with three important responsibilites while former Test batsman Zaheer Abbas was named as the principal adviser to the chairman, a post specially created for the former captain who had toured with the national team in the last Asia Cup and the World T20 to Bangladesh as cricket consultant.

Moin along with Intikhab Alam and Haroon Rasheed will also pick the head coach, batting and fielding coaches of the national team. Former fast bowler Waqar Younis is widely tipped to take over as the new head coach and it seems that he, too, will be working under Moin who will be enjoying a lot of clout in the dressing room with his new-found status.

However, in combining the manager’s job with that of the chief selector, the PCB apparently has played its cards quite shrewdly as in the presence of Moin on tours, it will not be easy for the captain and coach to select the playing XI at their own whim and fancy.

However, at the same time, it will put tremendous pressure on Moin who will be responsible for all the important decisions relating to the team.

It may be mentioned here that since the day Sethi took over as PCB chairman, Moin has been the integral part of his cabinet. At first, Moin was appointed as chief selector but later his name was withdrawn on the orders of the honourable courts who disallowed Sethi to make long-term decisions.

Later, Moin was given the task of manager on the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa and also in the UAE series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. When Dav Whatmore finally called it quits as head coach of the national team after the Sri Lanka series, Moin was given yet another role as head coach in place of Whatmore.

Under his coaching, though Pakistan qualified for the Asia Cup final in February, the performance of the team in the recently held World T20 remained below par as Pakistan could not qualify for the knock out stage for the first time in the history of the event.

On Monday, a press statement issued by the Board said: “The PCB is pleased to announce the appointment of Zaheer Abbas as principal adviser to PCB chairman and Moin Khan as chief selector and manager of the national cricket team.

“Zaheer Abbas is a member of the PCB management committee and the position of principal adviser is honorary.

“Moin Khan has previously served as manager and coach of Pakistan team. He will be on deputation from PIA to the PCB,” it concluded without mentioning the exact period of Moin and Zaheer’s tenure.

In another press release the PCB announced the names of the members of coach finding committee. “The PCB has set up a committee to scrutinise and evaluate the applications for various coaching positions advertised recently. Those include the positions of head coach, batting coach, fielding coach, spin bowling consultant, conditioning coach and sports physiotherapist.

“The committee comprises Moin Khan (chief selector), Intikhab Alam (director domestic cricket) and Haroon Rasheed (director game development). The committee will make its recommendations to the PCB chairman after the cut-off date for the applications which is May 5, 2014,” it concludes.

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