Lawson unhappy to leave Pakistan

Sydney, Nov 1 (UNI) After about 16 months at the helm of the Pakistan team, sacked coach Geoff Lawson feels he should have been given another chance by the PCB.

''I am sorry to be leaving these guys,'' Lawson said. ''I went into this thing full of hope and enthusiasm. I just needed to get a few more pieces of the puzzle together and I won't get a chance to do that.'' The former Australian fast bowler coached Pakistan to the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup last year but has had a string of poor results since then.

However, Lawson insisted that his sacking had nothing to do with cricket.

''When the government changed everyone knew the (cricket board) chairman would change and when that happens, a lot of things change.

So it was always a possibility rather than a probability. That is just how things work over here. I am very philosophical about it.

There is no other way to be.

''But I think I am probably much better off than a lot of other people. I get paid out and I get to go home. There are so many other staff who have been sacked or are leaving and I don't think they got paid an awful lot,'' he stressed.

Now, after Lawson, who was sacked as the Pakistan coach last week, Intikhab Alam has assumed his responsibilities.

The 50-year-old Australian, however, feels luckier than most other officials in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

''There are so many other staff who have been sacked or are leaving and I don't think they got paid an awful lot,'' Lawson was quoted as saying by 'The Sydney Morning Herald'.

Lawson was able to work out a financial agreement with the PCB after he had send back a cheque the board had given him, claiming that the payment was far short of what was owed to him as per the terms of his contract.

UNI XC AB PY HS1227