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Moin Khan is retained as Pakistan cricket captain for the tour to New Zealand after a week of drama and uncertainty regarding the wicket-keeper's future.

Brig Munawwar Rana, director Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told Dawn from Rawalpindi that Moin will continue until March 31 before his extension is discussed and decided for the tour to England.

"Our policy is very clear. We will appoint captain on series by series basis after evaluating the performance of the skipper and the team," he said.

It was also decided that Moin will represent Pakistan in the Test captains meeting slated for Feb 12 at Melbourne and to be chaired by International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richards.

"Moin reportedly had a one-to-one meeting with the PCB chairman on Thursday and I am sure they must have discussed several issues," declared Rana with reference to the ongoing rift between the players and coach Javed Miandad over the share in $1.3million logo deal.

"The PCB's position on the issue is very clear: the players and the coach are getting according to the contract. The perception that coach has been paid from the players share is wrong.

"I wouldn't call it misunderstanding but misperception because most of the players don't know what their overall contracts are. In fact, the players are not likely to know the contract between the board and the coach," he added.

The PCB director admitted that the recent scenario must have unsettled the players but hoped they would put it behind them and look forward to what is a very demanding tour.

"When something unusual happens, it naturally affects everyone associated with it. It is sad that the misperception led to controversy involving Moin Khan and Javed Miandad.

"But the dust has now settled with and everything is crystal clear. The players know what is expected of them and so does the captain and the coach."

Moin said from Rawalpindi that he was a relieved man and now can concentrate on cricket and additional assignment.

"Frankly speaking it has been the worst week of my career. I had never been in situations like this before so it was a nightmare experience. But I am glad it's all over.

"It was depressing to read every morning that my place in the team was under threat. But I am glad that the PCB chief has lived upto his reputation of supporting the players in difficult and testing situations," the veteran of 62 Tests said.

Moin refused to be drawn in the controversy regarding the logo share but said the matter had been settled amicably.

The PCB director, however, said Moin will not be part of the selection committee which will finalize the New Zealand-bound squad on Saturday. He said it was the prerogative of the selectors to pick the squad. "The captain's role starts when the players are handed over to him."

Regarding the tri-nation earthquake series in Sharjah, Rana said the PCB was an autonomous body and didn't require government clearance to play anywhere no matter if India are participating there.

"We don't know officially if India have agreed to play there but as far as we are concerned, we have no problems.

"If the series is on, then we might have to delay our departure to New Zealand by a day or two. We will have to see the flight schedule to Auckland from Sharjah," he said.

Our reporter from Islamabad adds: The chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said he discussed several issues, including the one which triggered controversy, with senior players.

"Moin and Inzamam-ul-Haq talked to me last night and before that the other senior players like Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram also discussed the issue," the PCB boss said.

Wasim Bari, chairman of selectors, said that 16-man team for the one-day series will be submitted to the cricket board on Saturday who will then announce it on Sunday.

Zia confirmed the return of speedster Shoaib Akhtar for the New Zealand tour after a nine-month lay off due to injury. "Shoaib has regained fitness and will be part of the team on the tour," he said.

However, the fitness of all rounder Azhar Mahmood was still in doubt, he added while praising the performances of Misbahul Haq, Imran Farhat, Humayun Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Hasan Raza, Mohammad Sami, Jaffar Nazir, Fazle Akbar and all rounder Yasir Arafat.

© Dawn