The Pakistan Cricket Board has set September 26 as the deadline for candidates interested in becoming the national team's coach and has also contacted other Test playing nations and the ICC for advice on the matter. PCB board official confirmed that an advertisement would be posted this week by the board in which interested candidates would be asked to apply for the coaching position.

“In the advertisement, September 26 has been set as the final date for interested candidates to send in their CVs to the head of the special committee formed to shortlist and recommend candidates," the official said. The decision to advertise the post which will be vacant after the Pakistan team's tour to Zimbabwe ends later this month came after the first meeting of the special committee that is headed by former captain Intikhab Alam and includes Zaheer Abbas and Naushad Ali as members with another former captain Rameez Raja also there for assistance and advice.

The committee met on Thursday in Lahore with the members keeping in touch with Rameez on phone as the former opener turned commentator is in Zimbabwe for the ongoing series. The official said the main criteria for the candidates to apply for the position was they should have some international experience of coaching. Another source in the board confirmed that the board has also been in touch with other Test playing nations and the ICC asking them for advice and suggestions on the availability of candidates for the Pakistan coaching position. “Apparently given the number of times the board has had to change coaches in the past 15 years it wants this appointment to be made through a transparent process and after much deliberation,” the source said.