By Paresh Soni BBC Sport in Jamaica

Every time I have met him I have been impressed by his desire to see a successful Pakistan team Richards on Miandad

Sir Viv Richards says Javed Miandad could be the right man to succeed Bob Woolmer and revive Pakistan's fortunes.

Woolmer died on Sunday, a day after a shock defeat by Ireland knocked Pakistan out of the World Cup.

Ex-Pakistan captain Miandad has held the position three times but Richards says he has the strength to galvanise a notoriously inconsistent team.

"He could do the job, purely because of his love and passion for Pakistan cricket," Richards told BBC Sport.

"Every time I have met him I have been impressed by his desire to see a successful Pakistan team."

Former West Indies captain Richards says he "cannot understand how a team containing high quality players", like Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar have failed to win more regularly.

"This is a group of players who have not fulfilled or played to their ability, for whatever reason. It needs someone to go in there and bring out those talents on a consistent basis.

Miandad played 233 one-dayers and 124 Tests for Pakistan

"Javed has seen and done pretty much everything in the game and is a strong character. No-one knows more about Pakistani cricket than he does.

"I know it didn't work out for him last time but maybe there were factors in play that time that might not be this time.

"The only other person who has managed to get hold of that team and shape them into a fighting unit was (another former Pakistan skipper) Imran Khan and he could also be an option."

Richards, who says he was asked whether he would be interested in becoming India coach before Australian Greg Chappell got the job in April 2005, says he has "an open mind" and would not rule out moving into coaching himself.

"It does appeal to me, but I have a particular idea of the way things should be done.

"A lot of things would have to be done in a certain way and there would have to be a lot of independence for me before I could think about coaching in the Caribbean or anywhere else."