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Pakistan recalled former Test captain Mushtaq Mohammad as head coach yesterday, a week before the start of the World Cup.

The appointment ends a frantic two weeks for Pakistan cricket in which Javed Miandad resigned as coach after disputes with senior players and assistant coach Sarfraz Nawaz was dropped.

``I'm very happy Pakistan has a former captain and a former coach to lead us in the World Cup,'' said Khalid Mahmood, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Mushtaq, who has coached Pakistan twice in the last four years, replaces Miandad who shocked Pakistan by resigning on April 21, just days before the squad left for England.

Mushtaq, who lives in Birmingham, will begin his duties today when Pakistan play their first warm-up match against Derbyshire at Derby, Mahmood said.

In the immediate aftermath of Miandad's departure the Pakistan Cricket Board had said captain Wasim Akram had been given sweeping powers on and off the field for the World Cup.

But Mahmood said on Friday that Wasim and team manager Zafar Altaf backed the appointment of Mushtaq, who will be coach only for the World Cup.

Pakistan open their World Cup challenge against West Indies in Bristol next Sunday.