Cricket: Pakistan Set to Name Australian Lawson As Coach

Geoff Lawson, the former Australia seam bowler, is expected to be named as Pakistan's new coach today. He would succeed Bob Woolmer, whose sudden death during the World Cup caused a murder hunt before it was concluded that he had died of natural causes.

As murder theories abounded about Woolmer's death, involving strangulation and poisoning, Pakistan's prospects of appointing another foreign coach were held to be minimal. But the frenzied atmosphere of the spring has dissipated and Lawson, one of three Australians to be shortlisted, expects an announcement imminently.

"I'm still talking to the Pakistan Cricket Board," he said. "If they do offer me the position there will be a few details to sort out. I am enthusiastic if it happens, and if it doesn't there is still a lot of cricket in Australia."

Two other Australians were interviewed by the PCB - Dav Whatmore, the former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach, and Richard Done, the ICC's high performance manager. Whatmore's chances receded when senior players and officials made it clear that they preferred Lawson. Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lankan captain, was also lukewarm in his praise for Whatmore when he happened to meet Pakistan officials in Scotland.

Lawson, 49, who played 46 Tests and 79 ODIs, is a shrewd and independent thinker who would relish the particular challenge of coaching Pakistan. He would not claim, however, to be the most easy-going of individuals, which would make his appointment even more intriguing.

In the fallout from the World Cup, India and Sri Lanka are still to name new coaches. Sri Lanka's players are keen on Graham Ford, the Kent coach, although he has already turned down the India job.