In a climb down of sorts PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said his comments on coach Geoff Lawson were his personal opinion.

Butt, who was appointed PCB chairman earlier this month, had lashed out at Lawson at a media conference earlier this week, saying he was "useless".

Butt had also said the PCB would not renew Lawson's contract, which is due to expire in April next year.

"As the PCB chairman I am duty-bound to fully back Lawson and to take care of all his liabilities," Butt told the Dawn.

"What I said in the press conference was my personal opinion which I had also given to former chairman of PCB Nasim Ashraf."

Ashraf, who resigned in August just after Pervez Musharraf stepped down as the country's president, had appointed Lawson on a two-year deal in August last year.

Meanwhile, former skippers Imran Khan and Javed Miandad have defended Lawson, saying the Australian coach wasn't the only one responsible for the team's poor results.

"How can you blame the coach for poor performances of the Pakistan team when your domestic structure is rotting," Imran said.

"Don't expect miracles from the coach."

Pakistan have not played a Test match this year and have had mixed success in one-day tournaments.

They won a triangular series in Bangladesh also involving India and Sri Lanka, but failed to make the final of the Asia Cup and also lost a Twenty20 tournament in Toronto.

Miandad said players should also share the blame.

"Lawson is not the only one to blame," he said.

"The players should also take responsibility and I think they should be held accountable as well."