LAHORE, June 7: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has again demonstrated that it is not at ease with coach Javed Miandad by signing a one-month contract with South African former batsman Barry Richards as a batting consultant.

According to the agreement, Richards will train the players at the National Cricket Academy and also give finer tips to the Pakistan batsmen. However, like Australian former great batsman Greg Chappell, Richards will complete the one-month assignment in four sessions.

Chappell, who is due here on July 26 to start his first one-week visit, has been only appointed for the NCA. But hiring Richards for the Pakistan team is a clear signal that the board is not completely satisfied with the performance of Miandad as the national coach.

Miandad was appointed coach after the World Cup's debacle. He raised the team through the rebuilding process. But a 2-1 defeat to India in the home Test series and 3-2 in one-dayers made things difficult for Miandad, who has a two-year contract with the board ending in April 2005.

Interestingly, the PCB had admitted that Pakistani bowlers letthe team down in the Indian series and not the batsmen. But their decision of hiring Richarsd as batting consultant could trigger a row with Miandad.

Meanwhile, it is said Richards will be paid US$100,000 for his services. It may be mentioned that both Chappell and Richards visited Lahore, along with the former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd, to attend the Asian Cricket Council development seminar last month.