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Controversial Richard Pybus was once again appointed Pakistan cricket coach but this time until next year's World Cup in South Africa for reportedly a fee of£1500 per day.

Although the writing was always on the wall once Mudassar Nazar who was made scapegoat for team's slump was earlier this week relegated to the national academy, the official announcement came after a meeting between the 38-year-old English-born South African and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

PCB officials said during the meeting, the two parties finalized the modalities of the contract while Pybus also presented his future line of action.

It is the fourth time in as many years that Pybus has been associated with the Pakistan team. In 1998, he was inducted as trainer before being rehired as assistant coach on the tour to Australia in 1999.

In 2001, he was re-installed as coach starting with the Asian Test Championship, but quit the team mid-way through following terrorists attack on the United States.

Pybus's appointment is beingcriticized by experts and pundits of the game who have questioned his sincerity and commitment with Pakistan cricket. It has also been questioned if the PCB had lost faith in the abilities of its former greats to lift the morale of the team.

Although no financial details were revealed, it is being reported that Pybus would be paid around £1,500 a day, particularly in the background that Geoffrey Boycott was paid £30,000 for 15-day trip last year.

Later talking to newsmen, Pybus admitted that it was a challenging task for him to take over a team which had touched rock-bottom in the last five weeks.

When asked what could be the reasons, he expressed his ignorance but minced no words in saying that he was astonished how could a multi-talented team like Pakistan team slumped so alarmingly.

He said he would leave for Colombo on Sept 25 to analyse the factors behind the poor performance.

The first Test against Australia begins Oct 3 and it would be nothing less than a personal challenge for the former Border coach while facing the world champions. Pybus's trained team suffered a 3-0 whitewash when Pakistan toured Australia in 1999-2000.

He said he had accepted the coaching assignment again because he felt Pakistan team had the potential and talent to win aboard and regain the World Cup that would be begin in Pybus's backyard from Feb 8.

His disagreed with a questionnaire that he was a trainer and not coach. "I have never been a trainer in my 12-year career in cricket. I was a coach and still am," he said with a firm tone.

© Dawn