New Zealand cricket coach John Bracewell is willing and able to take his team to Pakistan next month - if asked.
Bracewell's cryptic comments about his immediate future continued as he basked in the side's deserved 3-1 one-day international series win over England.
Speculation continues that Bracewell willwalk away from the national job before his contract ends next April, as New Zealand Cricket prepare to advertise for the role.
Asked to comment about reports of his potential departure, Bracewell said: "I think that's probably people's wish list more than anything else.
"I've said I'll honour my contract, and I'll honour my contract until the end of its term. If NZC want to move that forward, that's up to them, not up to me. I won't be walking away by choice."
So does that mean he will take the team to Pakistan?
"If asked."
But you're still the coach?
"If I'm the coach, yes."
Former Australian international Tom Moody is understood to be NZC's top choice but there is doubt over whether he wants the job. Former test captain John Wright is also an uncertain starter in the race.
Bracewell met NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan in London last week to discuss the just-completed England tour.
Focus will now turn to Pakistan as independent security reports are tabled at the International Cricket Council executive meeting in Dubai. There remains the prospect of Bracewell taking an under-strength side to September's Champions Trophy if some players choose to boycott the trip after expressing safety concerns to Vaughan.
"It's something I haven't focused on at all. Justin Vaughan spoke to us and said there's no news until he goes to Dubai for the meeting."
Should Bracewell take a full-strength side to the Champions Trophy, he was confident of his third-ranked team being a force with Jesse Ryder and James Franklin potentially returning from injury.
"James and Jesse should come back into the fold and that changes the dynamics of the side and ups the ante in terms of its competitiveness.
"It makes for quite a good side.
"The trouble with one-day knockout tournaments is you win or lose a game on the toss. It's very significant in the Asian countries.
"If you get a good run, and Dan Vettori's a good gambler and had quite a good run with the toss, we're as good a chance as anybody."
