ISLAMABAD: Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson appointed coach of the Pakistan cricket team, ending a long wait to fill up a post left vacant by the death of the high profile Bob Woolmer during the World Cup.

The 49-year-old Lawson, who piped compatriots Dav Whatmore and Richard Done in the race for the job, was awarded a two year contract by Pakistan Cricket Board.

"We had three outstanding coaches who had applied for the job but we considered Lawson as the most suitable candidate," PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf told reporters here.

Ashraf said Lawson's two-year contract was open for renewal as the Board wanted a coach who would lead the team to the 2011 world cup which would be held in the subcontinent.

He also said PCB would look for a batting coach, fielding coach and a fitness trainer but they would be finalized once Lawson comes to Pakistan sometime next month.

Lawson, a right-arm medium fast bowler, took 180 wickets in 46 Tests and 88 in 79 one-day internationals for Australia between 1980-89.