'Moin may be recalled as skipper if fit'

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 14. Moin Khan, currently out of the Pakistan squad playing at Sharjah due to an injury, may be recalled as skipper for the tour of England next month if he confirms his fitness, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Lt. General Tauqir Zia has said.

``If Moin is fit and available, we will stick to him in line with our policy of consistency. However, if he is unavailable, Waqar Younis will be retained,'' Zia told local media in Karachi on Thursday.

Zia's comments conflict with team manager-cum-coach Yawar Saeed's comments on Thursday in Sharjah where he said, ``though PCB did not specify the term when they appointed him (Waqar Younis), he is most likely to retain the role in immediate future.''

Moin Khan withdrew from the Sharjah series after he was advised a month's rest following a knee injury suffered during the team's tour of New Zealand. The board selected fast bowler Waqar to lead the team in Sharjah.

Reacting to the announcement, Moin Khan said he would decide to play only if he felt hundred per cent confident about his fitness. ``I do not want to be a liability. If I have to tour England, I have to be absolutely sure that I can play in all the matches,'' he told The Dawn. ``It is entirely up to the board to decide whom it should appoint as captain. I have learnt a lot in recent times. I might not be a perfect captain but I think I am making steady progress,'' he said.

``A lot depends on the results of the team and lately it has not been performing consistently. When people say Steve Waugh is a great captain, then they should also look at his team's record. Naturally, the captain is in the firing line when his team is not winning,'' he said.

Moin's remarks followed reports that several players have complained against him to the board. He also had open differences with sacked coach, Javed Miandad.

Meanwhile, Zia said the team for the England tour would be selected by April 23. He reiterated that the board was seriously considering the hiring of former Australian cricketer Darryl Foster as coach. The board hoped to finalise his contract before the team left for England on May 2.

- PTI

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