Whatmore guided Sri Lanka to World Cup triumph in 1996

The post has been vacant since Bob Woolmer's death during the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Three candidates have been interviewed but it now appears to be a choice between Dav Whatmore and Geoff Lawson.

Some players favour ex-Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach Whatmore, while the younger element would prefer former Australia pace bowler Lawson.

It is not the first split to occur since the World Cup.

When Shoaib Malik was appointed to succeed Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain, some senior members of the side wanted compensation with one of them being made vice-captain, but that job went instead to another youngster, Salman Butt.

When choosing the coach, Lawson's lack of international experience could ultimately count against him.

Inzamam has already spoken out in favour of Whatmore, who would bring a no-nonsense attitude to the job.

"He has a proven stature and would be best for Pakistan," said Inzamam, who still hopes to continue playing Test cricket.

Another former skipper, Wasim Akram, added: "Whatmore knows the culture in the sub-continent and would not find the job any different to his past experiences."

The PCB is keen to make an appointment with major home series against South Africa and Australia and a tour to India coming up between October and March 2008.

And the matter is likely to be finally decided at an ad-hoc committee meeting on 16 July.

Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to victory at the 1992 World Cup, has, meanwhile, warned against the immense pressure put on coaches by fans and the media.

"Coaching South Asian teams is demanding and the stress of the job was one of the factors in Bob Woolmer's tragic death," he asserted.