Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has returned to the country, putting paid to rumours that he had left for Australia for good.

Rumours were abound after he left for Australia that Lawson had left for home for good following a dispute with the national selectors over the finalisation of the squad for the Champions Trophy.

"Yes he had differences with the selectors over the selection of Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi but it was not so serious as to prompt him to leave his coaching job," an official in the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

Lawson has been attached with the Pakistan team since August, 2007 after the untimely death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup.

The official said the Board will now sit down with Lawson and the selectors to finalise a programme for the Pakistan players as they are bright chances of a tri-series being held in South Africa from mid-September to fill in the gap left by the postponement of the Champions Trophy.

He made it clear that the resignation of Nasim Ashraf as Chairman of the Board would have no effect on Lawson's contract with the Board that runs until 2009.

Lawson had gone to Australia and New Zealand with the task force of the International Cricket Council. He spoke to officials and players there to convince them that it was safe and secure to play in Pakistan.