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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday gave Waqar Younis and Mudassar Nazar extensions until the home series against the West Indies.

"The PCB has decided to retain Waqar Younis as captain and Mudassar Nazar as coach until the home series against the West Indies," chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told Dawn from Lahore.

Waqar was initially named captain until the series against New Zealand but got an automatic extension for next month's Bangladesh tour after the Black Caps cancelled a scheduled tour because of Sept 11 attacks.

Mudassar was last month appointed coach for the Sharjah triangular series and for next month's tour to Bangladesh.

Pakistan ends its Bangladesh visit on Jan 26 while the West Indies arrive on Jan 25 for a three-Test and an equal number of one-day internationals. The Caribbean are scheduled to conclude their 41-day tour with the final one-day international at Karachi.

"Although the combination of Waqar and Mudassar has worked in just one tournament, it appears to be a nice pair. The two deserve extension purely on merit," the PCB chairman said.

Waqar's men comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka in the Sharjah final which, ironically, was Pakistan's first international assignment since August.

"The two united their boys and played professionally (in Sharjah). The performance of the team reflected that there was some purpose and planning. "But the most enterprising part is that they played like a team which is so very crucial to our build up for the World Cup," Tauqir said.

Tauqir said Waqar's tenure upto the World Cup depended on his fitness and form but added that he would talk to Mudassar before awarding him a 12-month contract. "If Waqar keeps himself fit, he remains our top priority.

"Mudassar's contract with the PCB expires in February. I would certainly like to have him but before that certain modalities have to be finalized. "I will discuss the subject with him at the right time."

The general, however, dismissed the return of England-born and South Africa-based Richard Pybus. "He is presently not in the running because of political uncertainty in the region," he said. But when pointed out that situation seems to have eased out after the West Indies agreed to tour Pakistan, Tauqir said: "True, but Richard is low on our priority list."

Pybus coached Pakistan for two weeks before returning home in the wake of terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. However, insiders in the board say Pybus' demand of full authority and objections on the working of the PCB has irked the officials who have decided in principle to fall back on a local man.

Mudassar, besides the current Pakistan side, has the support of some of the best cricketers, including Imran Khan.

Mudassar, who returned from England last week, expressed mixed reactions over his new assignment.

"I am happy but one series extension is injustice to the team. Ideally, I would like to work until the World Cup and the proposal of one series is neither attractive nor acceptable to me," Mudassar said from Lahore.

Mudassar, however, admitted that he was scheduled to meet the PCB boss tomorrow and his coaching contract was on the agenda.

"I want to work with the team because I know I have the credentials. For example, everyone saw my motivating power in Sharjah where Wasim Akram emerged as a different bowler. "This is a multi-talented team. All it needs is motivation and backing which I think I can give.

"I will meet the chairman tomorrow with an open mind and I am sure the negotiations will go in the right direction with priority being the Pakistan team and Pakistan cricket," Mudassar said.

Waqar said he was honoured to have been entrusted with the job and backed PCB's policy of appointing captain on series- by-series. "I was never a worried man. I have never run after captaincy. But now since I have been handed with the job, I am enjoying it as an additional duty."

Waqar said PCB's policy of monitoring his performance before awarding him extensions was an incentive for him. "I take it as an incentive because it keeps me motivated and hungry to do even better. I am training hard and trying to keep myself going.

"I am being considered as captain for World Cup which makes me proud. But I have to spend more time in the field as captain. I need to learn a lot."

© Dawn