Lawson heads to Pakistan for interviews

Geoff Lawson, the former Australian fast bowler, is a possible candidate to succeed Bob Woolmer as Pakistan's coach and will fly to Islamabad for discussions.

Lawson said he was contacted at short notice about the job and was trying to obtain a visa from the Pakistan high commission in Canberra. He hoped to fly out this weekend "once the paper work has been done".

"It's a significant challenge," Lawson told The Australian about coaching Pakistan. "They're an underachieving team with plenty of talent. I'm flattered I've even been invited I suppose. I certainly haven't been chasing it. At short notice they asked me to come to Islamabad for an interview."

Lawson was among three candidates on Pakistan's shortlist, along with Dav Whatmore and Richard Done, the former New South Wales fast bowler. Steve Rixon, the former New Zealand coach, told AFP that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) contacted him about the role but he had already made other plans.

Lawson, currently a commentator, took 180 wickets in 46 Tests between 1980 and 1989 before finishing his career as captain of New South Wales and later becoming their coach.

Done replaced Woolmer as the International Cricket Council's high performance manager two and a half years ago, after Woolmer took up the Pakistan job. He played first-class cricket for New South Wales before beginning a successful coaching career in Australia.