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Former Australian Test pacer Geoff Lawson will arrive in Pakistan early next week after getting assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that his safety is guaranteed.

Lawson, who has surprisingly emerged as a favourite to become Pakistan’s new coach, will be interview by PCB officials along with two more former Australian Test cricketers — Dav Whatmore and Richard Done. Pakistan are likely to name their new coach next week.

“I was told that my personal safety was guaranteed,” Lawson told an Australian newspaper on Saturday before flying for Islamabad from Sydney.

Lawson said that he became interested in the Pakistani offer only after a recent announcement by Jamaican Police that former Pakistan coach died of natural causes.

“Given what’s been revealed about Woolmer — that he wasn’t

murdered — it changes the story about my job. I don’t think my wife would be letting me go over there if the verdict had been murder,” he told the paper.

“I’ve made a lot of enquiries to a lot of people and I wouldn’t be going all way to Islamabad unless it was a realistic proposition. I’ve been told initial reports about Bob were overblown and out of context. If I go over there, I’ll be working my bum off to make Pakistan the best side they can be,” he added.

Lawson believes that Whatmore remains the favourite for the Pakistan job because of his rich experience. Whatmore coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but was snubbed by India recently.