PCB reposes faith in Moin

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

KARACHI, DEC. 10. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday extended Moin Khan's contract as captain of the national team till June next year when England hosts Pakistan for a two-Test series.

``We want to prepare a strong team for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and certainly we want to give Moin every chance to establish himself as a fighting team leader,'' said Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, chairman PCB.

Tauqir said that along with Moin, coach Javed Miandad has also been given an extended contract and Inzamam-ul-Haq will be Moin's deputy. ``Miandad has a sharp cricketing brain and I think he has enough qualities to sharpen the skills of the younger players,'' he said.

The coach was all praise for Moin's fighting qualities stating that the wicketkeeper was Pakistan's best option to lead the team in the next World Cup. ``The best thing about Moin is that he is a very good communicator and has a very good understanding with all players,'' Miandad said.

Moin has led Pakistan in nine Test matches, losing just one when poor umpiring decisions cost Pakistan the Antigua Test early this year.

But Moin has an exceptional record in one-dayers leading Pakistan to victories in the triangular series at Sharjah, West Indies and Dhaka. The only non showing if any was in the ICC knockout tournament in Nairobi when Pakistan lost to eventual winner New Zealand.

However, Moin was criticised as a defensive captain during the on-going Test series against England. Ramiz Raja, member of the PCB Advisory Committee, was among a host of former Test cricketers, who have criticised Moin's leadership.

``He didn't utilise his spinners, especially Saqlain Mushtaq, as he should have had in the Karachi Test,'' Ramiz said. ``I failed to understand why Moin didn't give Saqlain long spells because he was our key bowler in the absence of Wasim Akram,'' Raja said.

With India pulling out of its scheduled tour to Pakistan, Moin's next assignment will be a three-Test series against Kiwis in New Zealand which will be followed by a triangular series in Sharjah, Asia Cup in Pakistan and then a two-Test and a triangular series in England.

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