Pakistan dispense with coach Lawson

(CNN) -- Former Australian Test star Geoff Lawson has been sacked as coach of Pakistan after 16 months in charge.

"His contract is being terminated and the board has decided to pay him three months advance salary," Pakistan Cricket Board media manager Raza Rashid told The Associated Press.

Lawson has endured a frustrating time since being appointed in July 2007 on a two-year contract, with his team playing very little cricket this year because of security concerns.

Australia called off a tour and the Champions Trophy, a one-day series between the leading cricket nations, was also postponed.

Under Lawson's charge, Pakistan lost key Test series against South Africa at home and away to arch-rivals India last year.

Pakistan also performed poorly in the Asia Cup one-day tournament at home in July, but did reach the final of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, losing to India.

His successor will be Pakistan's 12th coach in 10 years with three stints each for former Test star Javed Miandad and Richard Pybus, Pakistan's first foreign coach.

Lawson succeeded former England batsman Bob Woolmer, who was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica in March 2007 just a day after Pakistan's upset defeat at the hands of Ireland in the cricket World Cup.

Miandad is considered favorite for a return to the hot seat, but Pakistan's next international fixture is not until next month against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The teams will play three one-day games and are negotiating about playing accompanying Tests.

Of more pressing concern is a home Test series against India in January and February next year.

Lawson, 50, played 46 Tests from 1980-89, taking 180 wickets at an average of 30.56.

He also took 88 wickets in 79 one-day games at an average of 29.45.

Meanwhile, former Australian Test star Adam Gilchrist is in hot water over his new autobiography which appears to question the sportsmanship of India's batting hero Sachin Tendulkar.

Gilchrist said the remarks had been taken out of context, but former India national selector Dilip Vengsarkar told the CNN-IBN newschannel that he should have thought better of it.

"It is very unfortunate that Gilchrist has made such comments," he said.

"You get a lot of money to write a book in Australia and England. But you have to write something sensational to sell your book. It is a marketing strategy to sell his book," said the former Test batsman.

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