Moin vows to fight for place

Moin (left) with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Javed Miandad

Moin Khan has vowed to continue his international career amid rumours that he is to be stripped of the Pakistan captaincy.

The wicket-keeper missed the third Test against New Zealand because of a knee injury and had to watch as his side suffered a demoralising defeat by an innings and 185 runs.

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Pakistan were keen to appease their critics following the home defeat by England before Christmas.

But the result in Hamilton, with Inzamam-ul-Haq leading the Pakistan team, left the series tied at 1-1.

Moin's injury will keep him out of action for six weeks, so will not be in the squad for next month's one-day tournament in Sharjah, also featuring New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

My future lies in the hands of the selectors

  Moin Khan

But there has been speculation that the Pakistan Cricket Board were planning to fire him as skipper in any event, with Humayun Farhat taking over as first-choice behind the stumps.

"You've got to fight for your place. I've done it in the past and I can do it again," he said.

"You have to believe in yourself and that's what I depend on. I don't look to anybody to help me out. My weapon is self-belief and I will keep fighting."

Moin has led Pakistan in 13 Test matches, but won only four of them.

There is, however, no obvious replacement for the tour to England which starts in May, unless Inzamam wants the job on a permanent basis.

Pakistan's chances in New Zealand were not helped by a spate of injuries which resulted in senior players like Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar having to be sent home and seven replacements summoned to boost the squad.

"I am quite satisfied with the way we've performed on this tour. Unfortunately we lost the one-dayers, but we've done a great job in the Test series with such a young side," Moin added.

There is also speculation about the position of coach Javed Miandad, who threatened to resign before the Test series, but changed his mind.