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Mudassar Nazar was Thursday confirmed as Pakistan coach until the two-Test tour to Bangladesh in place of Richard Pybus who earlier in the week turned his back citing security concerns in South Asia.

Sikander Bakht, who served as Pybus' deputy in August for the Asian Test Championship, was appointed assistant coach but only for this month's Sharjah Cup which will run between Oct 26 and Nov 4.

Mudassar, who also coached Pakistan on the 1992-93 tour to the West Indies, is the 10th coach since 1997. Others are Haroon Rasheed, Mushtaq Mohammad (twice), Javed Miandad (twice), Wasim Raja, Richard Pybus (twice) and Intikhab Alam. "It is a great honour to be appointed coach of the multi- talented team which, I believe, has more ability than it has been performing in the recent past," the former Test opener said from Lahore.

"Although little over three months is a very short time but I will give my best to the team because for me, success is everything. "I see this appointment as the stepping stone for a permanent assignment with the Pakistan team," Mudassar, who played 76 Tests and earned the tag of Man with the Golden Arm, added.

Besides appointing Pakistan team officials, the top hierarchy of the PCB took a string of decisions in its two- day meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium. Sharjah and Moroccan city of Tangiers along with Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the neutral venues on which Pakistan would prefer to play its domestic international commitments came up for discussion.

The centres were deliberated upon after the game's controlling body earlier this week said Pakistan's home Test matches would have to be played on foreign soil in the backdrop of current political situation. However, the PCB emphasized that the venues would only be finalized after discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The discussions may come as early as in this month's ICC executive board meeting that takes place between Oct 15 and 19 at Kuala Lumpur.

The high level meeting of the PCB, which took most of the decisions Wednesday, slapped a one season ban on `joy-ride' pacer Mohammad Akram. The PCB, in a statement, admitted that the Allied Bank bowler, who has played nine Tests in six years, had been banned "for serious breach of discipline" and after "holding his explanation unsatisfactory".

Akram had deserted the Pakistan team and proceeded to England during the training camp for the Bangladesh Test to leave the hand-picked selectors red-faced after they had named him in the 16-man squad.

The disciplinary committee had initially recommended a three- year ban. But considering the fact that cricket was Akram's livelihood, the PCB reduced the penalty but showed no flexibility or compromise on discipline.

The PCB also chalked out fresh laws for the induction departmental teams in Grade-II, including commitment to maintain own ground and contribute financially towards development of cricket. An advanced draft on the new PCB constitution was also discussed.

An initial draft on the doping policy prepared by the PCB Panel of Doctors was also presented. The panel charted out a road map for the initialization of anti-doping education and policy, starting with next February's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

© Dawn