The Pakistan Cricket Board has narrowed the search for a new head coach to former Australia and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi. PCB sources said on Wednesday that “extensive discussions” had been held with Ronchi, 42, who also coached Pakistan Super League side Islamabad United. Sources said: “Since no reputed coach showed interest to work for PCB as most of them had signed with different leagues or had reservations about working in Pakistan cricket, the search ended up with Lonzo On Qi’s body.”

He said the contract with Ronchi should be finalized in the days before the start of the home T20 series against New Zealand.

After Ronchi retired from professional cricket, he also worked as a batting consultant and coach for the New Zealand team.

Sources added that the PCB team has contacted some high-profile coaches but most of them have either already committed or are unwilling to accept any assignment from the Pakistan board.

“Given the PCB’s history of dealing with foreign and local coaches, obviously we can understand the reservations of some foreign coaches,” he said.

Sources said even Ronchi has not said yes and is demanding ironclad assurance that he will be given an appropriate time frame to work with the Pakistan team over a period of time, regardless of the outcome.

“He wants clear assurances that his performance will only be assessed over a period of time and not after each series or event,” the source said.

PCB chief executive Mohsin Naqvi last week blamed leaks of salary details and other aspects of a potential coaching contract with Shane Watson on the Australian ultimately withdrawing from discussions.

The PCB has started its training camp at the Kakul military base in preparation for the T20 World Cup in June, starting with Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand in April.

Ronchi is one of the few players to represent two countries in international cricket – first for Australia and then for New Zealand. PTI Cor AM AM AM