KARACHI - Pakistan has engaged Australian Daryl Foster as bowling coach and consultant for the upcoming tour of England until a decision on the team's main coach is finalised, board officials said today.

Pakistan's search for the team's main coach is still on with South African-based Englishman Richard Pybus tipped as top contender, they said.

"Mr Foster has agreed to join the Pakistan team for the two Tests on the tour of England in May and we may extend his tenure for the one-day series as well," Pakistan Cricket Board director of operations Brigadier Munawwar Rana told AFP.

"We are still negotiating with some people and may name the main coach in the next few days," he added.

Foster becomes the second foreign coach to be linked with Pakistan after Pybus remained associated with the team as trainer-cum-coach in 1999 before being sacked.

Pakistan dumped coach Javed Miandad after the tour of New Zealand earlier this month.

"Foster's utility will be more as he has recently worked with our fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in Australia," Rana said.

Akhtar, cleared from a suspect bowling action, has played a key role in convincing Foster to join the team after he declined an initial offer earlier this month.

Rana refused to disclose the financial details of the deal.

© 2001 AAP