Arthur set to be appointed Pak team director.

KARACHI -- Mickey Arthur and the PCB are close to agreeing a deal that will result in Arthur's return to the Pakistan men's side: but as team director and not, as previously, head coach. Talks between the two had ended three weeks ago when the PCB announced it was moving on in its search for a replacement for Saqlain Mushtaq, the outgoing Pakistan coach. The two sides had failed to reach an agreement on how such a role could work, given Arthur has a long-term deal with Derbyshire, which he does not want to end.But last week, Najam Sethi, the interim head of the PCB, revealed that he was continuing the pursuit of Arthur. ESPNcricinfo understands that an arrangement is close to being finalised now, with Arthur potentially starting from April 1 as team director. That designation, one in which Arthur will be a consultant rather than head coach, will make for an unusual management structure: at international level at least: in which he will not be with the Pakistan team on every tour but will have a handpicked group of support staff running operations.

Lead among the support staff is expected to be former Pakistan fielding coach: and one-time head of their High Performance Centre: Grant Bradburn, in the role of a high-powered assistant coach. There will also be three coaches for batting, bowling and fielding, but no traditional head coach.

During the English county season, Arthur will not be hands on with the team; Pakistan tour Sri Lanka this July for instance and are scheduled to host the Asia Cup in September. But once the county season is over, Arthur is expected to be with the side at...

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