LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) search for a new national coach hit a fresh roadblock Thursday as its top pick, Australia’s Stuart Law, turned down a job widely seen as one of the toughest in international cricket. Law is the second foreigner after former England coach Peter Moores to turn down the head coaching role for Team Pakistan. PCB chief Shaharyar Khan confirmed that the former Bangladesh and Sri Lankan team coach had said that he won’t be able to join the Men in Green immediately. “Yes, there are hurdles in the way of signing on Stuart Law as head coach,” the PCB chairman added. “He had applied for a coaching position with us but he has now conveyed he is more interested in a consultant’s position and that he wouldn’t be able to join the team immediately.” The Pakistan job is complicated by the relatively low pay and Pakistan’s security issues, while attempts to build relationships with volatile national players are often hampered by its high turnover. The PCB formed a two-man committee – comprising ex-captains Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja – to conduct the search. They shortlisted Law and his fellow countryman Dean Jones, England’s Andy Moles and South African Mickey Arthur. Shaharyar also confirmed the PCB Board of Governance (BOG) unanimously picked the former Australian batsman as the first choice, with former New Zealand coach Moles as the second choice. The PCB chief also confirmed that the board was now in talks with Moles along with former Australian batsman and Pakistan Super League (PSL) inaugural edition winner Islamabad United coach Jones to fill the position left vacant after the resignation of Waqar Younis. “We are now also talking to Moles and Jones although the BOG had some reservations over some candidates,” he said. The 82-year-old further said the board wanted to announce the new head coach within few days, so he can join the team for the preparation for the England tour, which is due to start later next month. “We want the new coach to join the team before the tour to England from next month,” he said. “Once the head coach is appointed we will also finalise the rest of the support staff with him,” he added. The PCB wants to fill the post before Pakistan’s all-important tour of England beginning in July, where they play four Tests, one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals. A final decision is expected on Friday (today). Pakistan has had four foreign coaches in the past: Richard Pybus (two tenures in 1999 and 2002-03), Bob Woolmer (2004-07), Geoff Lawson (2007-2008) and Dav Whatmore (2012-14). The board’s budget for the head coach salary is reportedly $16,000 to $20,000 per month – much less than similar positions elsewhere. Meanwhile foreign coaches balk at touring a country where international cricket has been suspended since an extremist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. While Jones has no experience of coaching an international team, Moles had stints with Hong Kong, Kenya, Scotland, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Arthur successfully coached his native South Africa for five years (2005-2010) before migrating to Australia. He was appointed Australia’s coach in 2013 but was sacked mid-way through the Ashes that same year. Pakistan also talked to Australian Tom Moody and South Africa’s Paddy Upton, but all turned down the offer. Former Pakistan players Aaqib Javed and Mohsin Khan have refused to apply, alleging favouritism in the process. Javed resigned as United Arab Emirates coach last month and is now involved with the Pakistan Super League’s Lahore franchise. Mohsin had an interim stint in 2012 and under him Pakistan beat then world number one England 3-0, but lost the one-day series. The only local coach in the running is paceman Mohammad Akram, a former Pakistan bowling coach who also served at the national cricket academy in Lahore.