Call for Pakistan to operate without national coach

Former Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Rameez Raja said Pakistan should consider operating without a coach following the death of Bob Woolmer. Raja, who had convinced Woolmer to take up the coaching assignment with Pakistan in 2004, believes more control should be given to the team's captain.

"The PCB should take their time and think about not having a coach," former Pakistan captain Raja said. "There can be confusion about who is in charge with a coach there, so I say give the captain all the authority.

"They need to put a strong system in place, manage things well and give the reins to a solid captain and make him more responsible."

Woolmer (58) was found unconscious in his hotel room on March 18th the day after his team were eliminated from the World Cup following a shock defeat by Ireland. He was pronounced dead in hospital later that day. Jamaican police are treating the death as murder.

With Inzamam-ul-Haq also relinquishing the Test and one-day captaincy following Pakistan's poor showing, Raja believes that the time is right to made radical decisions which could change the fortunes of the team.

"We've tried various coaches and though they are important, if they were that important the lesser teams would be able to match the better teams in world cricket," he said.

"Coaches can also retard the thinking of cricketers, especially of a captain because he's being fed things from his coach all the time. This can stall the development of cricketers or captains."

Raja feels vice-captain Younis Khan should be appointed as the new skipper and also given charge of all team matters, aided by a low-profile assistant coach to organise things like nets.

He feels his ideas will resolve the issue of finding an adequate replacement for Woolmer.

Pakistan under-19 coach Aaqib Javed and cricket academy head Mudassar Nazar have both been suggested as candidates but Raja did not back them as candidates.

"As far as their cricket abilities go I have no issues but as man management skills are concerned I have an issue or two. I don't know if they are ready yet in terms of man management," he said.

"From past experience we've tried Pakistani coaches and it's still a young art at that level. That is why Bob Woolmer was so crucial to this team. He knew man-management and would look at the positives out of a defeat.

"If they make Younis Khan captain it would improve the team. He may come over as mercurial and temperamental but if they appoint him long term I'm sure he will be able to work out his negativities."

The Pakistan delegation set to assist in the investigation into the murder of coach Bob Woolmer said one of their main tasks was to provide the government with details on how the case was progressing.

Mir Zubair Mahmood, deputy inspector general of investigations in Karachi, said Tuesday that the delegation would travel to Jamaica with an open mind and stay there as long as they were needed.

"Our main job is to assist the Jamaican authorities and also keep our government informed about the progress in the case," he said.

Mahmood was the head investigator in the kidnapping and murder case of journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

The American was killed by militants while investigating links to the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Mahmood and Kaleem Imam, a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency, have been picked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and government to go to Kingston to assist the authorities.

Four of the best: Ireland cricketers make first XI

Four of Ireland's cricketers have been named as part of an Associate XI - the best of the World Cup "minnows" - by Cricinfo, the influential cricketing website. Here's what they had to say:

Niall O'Brien

Tidy and vocal behind the stumps, Ireland's cheerleader in chief has made an accomplished start to the World Cup, confirming - if there were any doubts - that Northamptonshire, O'Brien's club for 2007, have picked a good 'un. Having kept faultlessly in Ireland's opening match against Pakistan, his nerveless 72 shone like a lone beacon in Ireland's chase: the next highest score was just 16, by his brother Kevin. It caused the biggest upset in World Cup history and, though events in the following week would overshadow O'Brien's individual excellence, he showed memorable doggedness and no shortage of class. He followed it with a fluid 63 against England in the Super Eights.

Jeremy Bray

While the media have attacked the Associates' reliance on mercenaries, Australian-born Bray is one who has proved their worth. Against a depressingly inexperienced Zimbabwe attack he was ruthless, driving with remarkable power and authority in his 115. Against the West Indies he threatened to dominate once more, but struggled against the shorter ball, getting himself into awkward positions and highlighting the weaknesses of most Associates' batsmen against aggressive pace. He is a force for Ireland and, Aussie twang or not, they can't do without him.

Trent Johnston

Selected as much for his captaincy as his bowling - and long-levered, lower-order lofting - Johnston has been an inspiration for Ireland in his determination never to give up. He rarely conceded more than four runs per over and, against Pakistan in that unforgettable match, took the key wicket of Mohammad Yousuf. His athletic, diving catch to remove Kamran Akmal - whose lone 27 was Pakistan's last hope - highlighted the excellence of Ireland's outfielding in general.

Boyd Rankin

A surprise package in more ways than one. The tournament's tallest at 6ft 8ins (not an inch shorter, as he insists), his action is strong and smooth and, combined with the natural bounce he creates off a length, he is far more than a young minnow with nowhere to go. Six wickets at 23.50 in the World Cup so far - including those of Younis Khan and Michael Vaughan - are impressive statistics for someone lacking so heavily in experience. He saved his best delivery for a former team-mate, Ed Joyce - England's Irishman - who shouldered arms to one which cut back, sending his off stump flying.