Jonty Rhodes for fielding coach?

Worse than a sieve: Pakistan's fielding has been poor of late © Getty Images

The Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] is looking to hire a fielding coach ahead of their tour of England and Jonty Rhodes is the likely forerunner considering the board had publicly said during the series against India that they were interested in him.

"We have had initial discussions with a few people abroad and they have shown interest in this assignment," Abbas Zaidi, director PCB, told Reuters on Friday. Rhodes, former South African player, was among those the board was looking at for the position, he said. "We have to decide on the time period when we want the fielding coach and then confirm dates to those we have spoken too."

Pakistan's fielding had been below par in the recent times and Zaidi said Bob Woolmer, the coach, was being consulted about the appointment of a fielding coach. Woolmer had said on February 19 that he was open to idea of a having someone like Jonty Rhodes as the specialist coach. "If they [PCB] have the money for it, I'm happy with the idea."

Pakistan play four Tests and five one-day internationals in England on a tour starting June 29.