The Pakistan Cricket Board has approached former South African coach Mickey Arthur for taking up a full-time coaching job with the national team.
Sources in the board said that Arthur has been contacted by the PCB but so far he has not responded.
Arthur recently stepped down as the South African national coach after having selection issues with the South African Cricket Board and selectors. In his tenure, South Africa climbed up the rankings which raised his profile as an international coach.
"Arthur's name was suggested by former Australian captain Greg Chappell who was initially approached with an offer but he turned it down politely because of his commitments with Cricket Australia and its academy," a source said.
"Chappell is a good friend of Wasim Bari, the chief operating officer of the board and he had made some suggestions regarding best candidates to coach Pakistan team," the source added.
Another source said that Pakistan was keen to reach an agreement with Arthur before the T20 World Cup.
"Pakistan has some testing assignments coming up like the T20 World Cup, full tour to England, series against South Africa and New Zealand and then the 2011 World Cup over the next 12 months," the source said.
He said the board had held initial talks with Arthur but there were still some issues to be sorted out.
"Although Pakistan will be playing all of its home matches away from Pakistan because of the security situation but yet any foreign coach who accepts the offer from the PCB will have to remain in Lahore for periods of time for the coaching camps and training sessions," the source said.
He said that former Test captain Intikhab Alam, who has been Pakistan's coach since November, 2008, was not named to go to Dubai for the two T20 internationals against England this week and has been told his tenure is over.
"Intikhab's contract with the board runs until November this year but apparently he has been conveyed by the board officials that he will no longer be retained with the national team. He has been told to use his expertise at the national cricket academy or with junior teams," the source added.
Pakistan has had foreign coaches in the past as well, with former England player Bob Woolmer being the most prominent among them. He coached Pakistan from 2004 to 2007 before his tragic death during the last World Cup in 2007.
