Pakistan to part with Lawson

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has revealed that Geoff Lawson will not have his contract renewed once it expires next April.

Australian will not have contract renewed by PCB next April

Newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has revealed that Geoff Lawson will not have his contract renewed once it expires next April. The Australian took the post last year following the death of Bob Woolmer at the World Cup and was awarded a two-year deal. However, he has come in for strong criticism with his side losing Test series to both South Africa and India, failing to make the final of the Asia Cup and last week losing in the final of a Twenty20 tournament in Canada to Sri Lanka. Lawson has insisted he is happy with his side's performance and stated just last week he was hoping to extend his contract until the 2011 World Cup. However, Butt has now revealed that the PCB will be appointing a new man once the Australian's deal runs out in 2009. "The day his contract expires he will be no more with the Pakistan team," he told reporters. But with Lawson entitled to a healthy severance package if he were to be sacked, Butt added his contract would not be terminated prematurely. "We will suffer a huge financial loss if we terminate his contract now," he added. Former Pakistan players have been fierce in their criticism of Lawson, most notably Mohsin Khan who stated recently: "Lawson has no caliber to coach at the top level. He was a second string bowler in his playing days when fiery pacemen Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson ruled the world. Even Terry Alderman was ahead of him."