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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce a replacement for Javed Miandad as coach of the national team for the World Cup.

The chairman of the PCB, Khalid Mahmood, admitted from Lahore that the board was considering to appoint a coach.

``Yes, we are negotiating (with the concerned person) and consultation (within the board) in this connection are in progress. An announcement will be made as soon as the contract is signed,'' he said without disclosing the name of the player who will be succeed Miandad.

However, the chief executive of the PCB, Majid Khan, categorically denied that the PCB was considering the proposal of appointing a coach. ``To the best of my knowledge, nothing is happening,'' he remarked.

Nevertheless, sources said Mushtaq Mohammad, former captain who has also served two tenures as coach in the last four years, is set to replace Javed Miandad who resigned on April 21.

Sources said PCB chairman was personally handling the matter and todate the approval of the executive council has not been taken. To recall, the council had decided at this week's meeting that no replacement for Javed Miandad would be made.

``The approval of the executive council will certainly be taken once the modalities are finalized,'' Khalid Mahmood said.

It would not be out of context to mention here that it is the executive council which decides the policies, including which person should be appointed the coach. Article 27 (10) of the PCB constitution says: ``(The council shall) select and approve teams and officials for international matches to be held within and outside the country...''

England-born South African Richard Pybus was also first appointed by the PCB last month and the approval of the executive council was taken in the May 1 and 2 meeting.

Mahmood said the coach would be appointed with consensus, hinting that the players views will also be taken into account. Sources in the board said the senior players have lobbied and pressurized the cricket board to appoint Mushtaq Mohammad as coach for the World Cup.

Informed sources said Mushtaq Mohammad faxed his acceptance as coach on Wednesday morning. According to insiders, Mushtaq, besides the fees, has said the PCB would compensate for the loss which he will incur after breaking his contractual obligations as an expert on BBC television and helping medium-pacers of Bangladesh during the tournament.

``Since I will back out from those (lucrative) contracts, the PCB should compensate me,'' Mushtaq is reported to have demanded from the cricket board.

Khalid Mahmood said Mushtaq's appointment would not be a long term one. ``It will just be for the World Cup. After Javed (Miandad), there was a gap which we want to fill,'' he said.

But fact of the matter is that even if the PCB wants Mushtaq to continue, that would not be possible because he has already signed as Bangladesh cricket team coach after the World Cup which ends on June 20.

Mushtaq, one of the famous Mohammad brothers, was first appointed coach in 1995 but was sacked in three months after Pakistan lost the home series 1-2 to Sri Lanka and later were beaten in the Sharjah tournament under the captaincy of Ramiz Raja.

He staged a comeback when Majid Khan took over as chief executive. But that association ended in 13 months when Mushtaq resigned on pay dispute.