KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - Former Australian test bowler Geoff Lawson told local media on Monday that he had been appointed Pakistan's new cricket coach.
Lawson told Sky News that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had contacted him on Sunday and confirmed he would be appointed as full-time successor to Bob Woolmer, who died of suspected heart failure during the World Cup in March.
The 49-year-old Lawson, who took 180 wickets in 46 tests for Australia between 1980 and 1989, has never coached before at international level.
He beat fellow Australians Dav Whatmore and Richard Done to the post.
The PCB said it would officially confirm the new coach later on Monday.
"The board has decided to go along with Lawson as his appointment was backed by the players and also manager Talat Ali in recent meetings with the board chairman," a PCB source told Reuters last week.
"The players felt that Lawson had a very positive attitude towards the game and was an easy person to get along with."
Lawson, a trained optometrist, had been working with state side New South Wales and has developed a media commentary career since his retirement from the game.
- REUTERS