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Change of plan Miandad removed as Pakistan's coach
KARACHI (Reuters) -- Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad was removed from his position Tuesday, even though he had been appointed to guide the team to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said the decision had been taken because Miandad was needed to work at PCB headquarters in Lahore. "The chairman of the PCB wants Miandad to look after the day-to-day affairs in the cricket headquarters," the spokesman said. Pakistan team manager Fakir Aizazuddin, in a recent leaked report, criticized Miandad for his attitude and said either the coach or senior players needed to be replaced. But Miandad played down his removal on Tuesday, saying he had no problems with any players. "I have a good relationship with each player. Being a part of the PCB, I have to do every assignment -- whether it be coaching or looking after the office," he said. Miandad's replacement has yet to be named but former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar and ex-England test opener Geoffrey Boycott have been mentioned as possible successors by the time Pakistan tour England next month. The decision came as the PCB named fast bowler Waqar Younis as captain for this month's tri-nation one-day series in Sharjah. It is the second time Miandad has not completed his term. He was initially appointed for three years in September 1998, but resigned the following April after disagreements with senior players over money. He was reappointed in March 2000 but was soon embroiled in further controversy when the Pakistan players twice protested to the PCB about the distribution of US$1.3 million in logo money. Waqar appointed captain The PCB appointed fast bowler Waqar Younis as captain for this month's tri-nation one-day series in Sharjah. Younis, who has taken 323 wickets in 204 matches, was named skipper after he impressed in leading Pakistan in a tri-nation series in Singapore last July. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was tipped to replace injured captain Moin Khan, was retained as vice-captain of a team that does not include injured regulars Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood and Yousuf Youhana. The selectors also named uncapped paceman Kashif Raza and recalled off-spinner Shoaib Malik and allrounder Yasir Arafat. Wicketkeeper Humayun Farhat, who played in the Hamilton test in New Zealand last month, was also included. Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which replaced India, are the other teams travelling to the desert city for the tournament to be played between April 8 and 20. Squad: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Humayun Farhat (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat and Kashif Raza. Manager: Yawar Saeed Physiotherapist: Dale Naylor
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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