KARACHI, Dec 17: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday unanimously voted in favour of Inzamam-ul-Haq to lead the country at next year’s World Cup in the West Indies.

Addressing a crowded press conference after a marathon meeting of PCB’s ad hoc committee here at the National Stadium, the cricket board’s chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf also announced vice-captain Younis Khan, coach Bob Woolmer and team manager Talat Ali would continue in their respective jobs until the cricket’s showpiece event as well as the preceding tour of South Africa in the New Year.

Pervez Mir, the former Pakistan player who played in the inaugural World Cup in 1975, has been appointed the team’s media manager only for the World Cup, the chairman clarified.

Dr Nasim remarked that the reason behind reposing faith in the same team management was to ensure harmony within the squad.

“The simple fact is we believe in the policy of continuity and stability in the team. And we think it would be unfair for all concerned to make any change(s) in the present regime,” the PCB chief explained. “At the same time we feel that Inzamam has performed admirably in binding the squad together in difficult circumstances.”

Inzamam, who along with Younis, was appointed until end of the year last July, led Pakistan to 2-0 Test and 3-1 one-day series victory over the West Indies to silence critics who had questioned his fitness and form.

The 36-year-old batting great, who has been the national captain since November 2003, copped a four-match ODI ban for bringing the game into disrepute after Pakistan became the first team to forfeit the Test after the controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair imposed a five-run penalty while allegedly accusing Inzamam’s men of ball tampering.

Dr Nasim praised the current outfit who he said have exemplary self-belief, unity and maturity to be a strong contender for the World Cup. “In my view the World Cup will be won by a team which has self-belief. The Pakistan team showed great character in the aftermath of The Oval Test fiasco and the ICC Champions Trophy in the just-concluded series against the West Indies. We feel that they are capable of winning the World Cup as any other side in the competition,” the chairman noted.

Woolmer, the 58-year-old former England player and ex-South African coach who replaced Javed Miandad in June 2004 after Pakistan lost to India at home, has his contract with the PCB until the World Cup.

Inzamam has led Pakistan to 10 wins in 28 Tests while losing nine and drawing nine. In 82 One-day Internationals as skipper he has 50 wins, 29 defeats and three no results.

Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests and five One-day internationals in South Africa before they head to the Caribbean for the World Cup.

Dr Nasim further said the World Cup squad will be picked from the same pool from which the party for South Africa tour will be announced next week.

“Barring any last-minute development Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup will be selected from the 22-man list that will be picked shortly. The selectors are in the process of finalizing the players who will be appearing in a conditioning camp in Lahore from Dec 26,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ad hoc committee has agreed in principle to give the gate earnings from the West Indies series to the local associations for development purposes Dr Nasim said while accepting a longstanding demand of the cricket associations affiliated with the PCB.

“For example, 50 per cent of gate-money for the Test and One-day International in Karachi will be given to the KCCA. The remaining amount will be distributed among the district associations in the interior of Sindh.

“Likewise other centres would also benefit from this decision once the audited accounts of the West Indies series are released,” the PCB chairman announced.

The PCB chief also revealed the salient features of the pension plan and welfare fund that will be shortly instituted by the cricket board for retired Pakistan cricketers.

“Initially, the pension scheme would benefit those cricketers who retired in the pre-Kerry Packer era in 1978. Those who had played in 20 or more Tests would receive Rs25,000 per month, the 10 to 19 Tests category players would earn Rs20,000 and Rs10,000 would be given to those who played below that figure,” he said.