Dean Jones in contention for Pakistan coach job

Former Australian batsman Dean Jones and former England all-rounder Dermot Reeve are said to be in the list of five candidates, short listed by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the job of chief coach.

Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam refused to divulge the names of the short listed candidates but sources in the Jones and Reeve were on the list.

"I can't give you the names of the people on the shortlist we have made of five candidates. But we received a total of 37 applications for the post of Pakistan coach against the advertisement the Pakistan Board put out for the position. These applications included 12 foreigners and 25 locals," Alam said at a press conference.

The PCB had formed a special committee headed by Alam and including former players Zaheer Abbas, Colonel Naushad Ali and Rameez Raja to help the Board find a new coach for the national team.

The committee, Alam said has short listed five candidates whose names would be given to the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt when he returns from abroad on October 1.

"Butt has the authority to choose one person from the short list or even directly approach someone else from outside the list for negotiations if he is not satisfied with the list," the former Test captain said.

Alam also negated media reports that no high profile coach had applied for the Pakistan coaching position that fell vacant after the sudden decision by Waqar Younis to resign due to personal and health reasons.

Waqar stepped down as coach after leading the team to a clean sweep over Zimbabwe last month and his exit.

The PCB since 1997 has changed the national team coach at least 15 times with Bob Woolmer being an exception as he died a natural death during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies after being in charge from 2004 to 2007.

Alam said that Younis' exit at such a crucial time for Pakistan cricket was a big drawback but the list of applications the Board had got included some very good candidates.

"We have picked the five best but if time is short the Board can also make an interim arrangement for the coming Sri Lanka series and than make a fulltime appointment later on from the list of candidates we are giving them."

Sources said former Test pacer Aaqib Javed, who has worked as assistant coach of the national team on several tours in recent times was also among the shortlist of candidates while rumours were also strong about former captain Moin Khan.