LAHORE, Dec 30: Former Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has been reappointed as assistant coach of the Pakistan cricket squad that begins the tour of South Africa from January 2, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr Nasim Ashraf disclosed at a press conference here on Saturday.

The chairman, who had sacked Mushtaq from the same post hours before the team’s departure for the ICC Champions Trophy in India, said he took the decision because Mushtaq was capable of serving the team, adding the leg-spinner would stay with the team till the end of the tour.

However, the bowling coach, Waqar Younis, would return home after the three-Test series.

Dr Nasim said Mushtaq was not needed when the team departed for the ICC Champions Trophy. “Mushtaq has impressed me a lot with his cricketing knowledge and I think he can be a better choice for the South African tour,” he stated.

There are reports that the decision was taken on the demand of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who had been Mushtaq’s open supporter during the tenure of former PCB chief Shaharyar M. Khan.

The chairman said the morale of the team was high, hoping it would deliver in South Africa. “A win or loss does not matter, the real thing that matters is how every individual performs for a collective cause during the tour,” he noted.

“No doubt the tour is a challenging one, yet it provides us an opportunity to test the real potential of the team before the 2007 World Cup,” he pointed out.

He said though the team was without fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, it was still strong in the pace bowling department. “Umar Gul is improving by leaps and bounds and he can create trouble for any team on any pitch. Mohammad Asif is a fast emerging bowler and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is a man of great heart. Similarly, Shahid Nazir is equally good,” he emphasised.

Dr Nasim stated the decision of not selecting Shoaib Akhtar for the tour, proved critics wrong, who believed the PCB was interested in acquitting the bowler from the doping charges.

About the batting department, Dr Nasim opined that the team was strong enough although it was without injured Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi, highlighting that player like Shoaib Malik was available at the number six spot.

The chairman said Kamran Akmal was still the team’s main wicket-keeper, adding Zulqarnain Haider has been included just to give Kamran some cover. “Kamran is our number one wicket-keeper and Zulqarnain is going with the team as an ‘understudy’,” the chairman expressed.

Dr Nasim revealed a physical test was conducted on Saturday to get the latest information about the fitness of the players before their departure to South Africa.

Meanwhile, the chairman announced double bonus for the Pakistan team for winning the recent home series against the West Indies. Apart from the members of the national team, the supporting staff was also given the incentive, he said.

He said the PCB had set up a fund with the initial amount of Rs300 million to pay monthly stipends to 160 former Test cricketers, acknowledging their services rendered for Pakistan. Dr Nasim said the cricketers who had represented the country before 1978, were selected in the list. He said among them 40 were those cricketers, who were over 60-years-old while 120 are under 60. Each cricketer will get Rs15,000 per month.

He said in the second phase of the scheme the cricketers, who served the country after 1978, would be benefited.

Dr Nasim informed that ad-hocism in the PCB would be waived off before January 31, 2007.

To a question, the chairman, however, said it was premature to say if he would be a candidate for the PCB chairmanship after the implementation of the new constitution.

The chairman said that regional cricket associations would receive 50 per cent of the income the PCB earned through gate money during the home series against the West Indies, adding that the associations, however, would be handed over an activity programme to spend the amount.