KARACHI (Reuters):

FORMER PAKISTAN captain Javed Miandad said yesterday that cricket authorities needed to stub out player-power in the national team or no lessons could be learnt from their early Cricket World Cup exit.

Miandad, who coached the Pakistan team for three separate terms after he retired having played 124 Tests, said the authorities needed to change their attitude with players.

"Unless steps are taken to curb player-power and they are given the message they don't have automatic places in the team, nothing will change," Miandad said.

Pakistan were bundled out of the World Cup after losing to hosts West Indies and Ireland and also had to cope with the death of their coach Bob Woolmer one day after their first-round elimination.

Their departure has caused outrage at home with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has stepped down from the captaincy, the chief selector and board officials being grilled by parliamentary bodies and in the media.

Suspension of contracts

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced suspension of all central contracts of the players and said it would appoint the captain and coach before May 7 after a board meeting held on Tuesday.

The board's problems have multiplied with senior batsman Younis Khan also reluctant to captain the side. Miandad, who was replaced by Woolmer in 2004, said that the refusal of Younis signified that there were problems in the team.

"Pakistan cricket's biggest challenge is discouraging groupings and players should be allowed to play according to their performances," he said.

Alluding to reports that Inzamam created problems by over-riding the selectors, Miandad said the selectors needed to be given more say in team selections.

"There is nothing wrong if the board starts planning for the future. The next captain must be strong but not allowed to dictate to the selectors or board."

Saleem Altaf, the advisor to the board chairman on cricket affairs, said it had been decided at Tuesday's board meeting that players would now be given performance-related central contracts.

"Contracts would revolve around performances and due rewards. There is also a proposal to scrap the categorisation in the contracts," he said.

The most senior player gets a monthly retainer of rupees 250,000 (US$4,150) in the contract besides match fees.

Altaf said that the board had also not ruled out the possibility of having another foreign coach.