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Pakistan sack coach Pybus

Pakistan sacked their British-born cricket coach Richard Pybus yesterday after a disastrous recent tour of Australia where they lost all three Tests.

Pybus, who was appointed in early October, had come under fire from cricket officials and the Pakistan media in the wake of what the Dawn newspaper called ''Pakistan's worst tour of Australia to date''.

''A decision on Pybus's replacement will be made soon,'' Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) secretary Shafqat Rana was quoted as saying by the official APP news agency.

Pybus was quoted in the Dawn yesterday as saying he wanted to complete his one-year contract as coach. ''But I wouldn't be surprised but disappointed if I am sacked,'' he added.

''I know the knives are out but I need time to turn things around. I can't deliver the goods in one month.''

Pybus had a short-term contract with Pakistan as assistant to Mushtaq Mohammad for the World Cup in England last May and June when Wasim Akram's team were beaten finalists.

The PCB has about three weeks to name a replacement before Pakistan return to Australia for a triangular one-day series that also includes India.

In the three-Test series in Australia, the Pakistanis lost the first match by 10 wickets, then went down by four wickets in the second after Australia scored the third-highest fourth innings total to win in Test history -- 369. Pakistan lost the third Test by an innings and 20 runs.

UNI