WOOLMER

KARACHI (Reuters):

Pakistan cricket authorities have advertised the post of national cricket coach following the death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup.

The advertisement posted on the Pakistan Cricket Board website has called for interested candidates to submit their applications by May 15.

"We have set certain standards to apply for the post. Anyone meeting our criteria, including foreigners, are welcome to apply," Zakir Khan, director, cricket operations of the board told Reuters yesterday.

Woolmer, who served as Pakistan coach from 2004, was pronounced dead in a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 18, one day after Pakistan lost to Ireland and were eliminated from the World Cup.

Return home

Police investigators are treating his death as murder. His body will be returned to his home in South Africa this week, the Jamaican Government said on Monday.

Khan said Pakistan had initiated discussions with some coaches but then decided to advertise the post to have a bigger field to choose from.

The Pakistan board said in the advertisement that the appointment of the coach would be initially for two years.

"We are keeping an open mind. We will complete our selection process by June," Khan said.

This is the first time the board has advertised the post of a national team coach and Khan said the advertisement had also been forwarded to the International Cricket Council and Test-playing nations' websites.

The seven-week World Cup culminates in the final on Saturday.