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Pakistan avenge Multan defeat

          Lahore: Pakistan on Thursday defeated India by 9 wickets on the fourth day of the 2nd Test at Lahore and levelled the series 1-1, thus avenging their defeat in Multan. Needing just 40 runs for victory, after India were bowled out for 241 in the second innings on the fourth day. Pakistan reached the target just half an hour after the lunch break. Earlier, Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel scored the second half-century of his career as India avoided an innings defeat. Though Ajit Agarkar and Parthiv Patel fought hard and tried to put up a competitive target for the hosts, they were left without much support from the other batsmen.

No plans yet to hire Waqar as bowling coach: PCB (Go To Top)

         Lahore: With former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis planning to announce his retirement soon, a section of the cricketing fraternity thinks that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might take him on as a bowling coach for the national team. Confirming that Waqar, the former captain, would be quitting the game at all levels later this week, PCB Chief Executive Rameez Raja said on Wednesday that the former would be coming to Lahore on Friday and that the PCB would be arranging a press conference and farewell for him where he would announce his retirement. "He called me up and stated that he wanted to announce his retirement and wanted the board to arrange the press conference," Raja said.

          Younis, who made his international debut in October 1989, has played 87 Tests and claimed 373 wickets at an average of 23.56. In one-day internationals, he has claimed 416 wickets at an average of 23.85. He last appeared for the country in March 2003. However, the CEO declined to comment on whether the retirement was aimed at installing him as a bowling coach, or as the chief coach of the National Cricket Academy. "No, we have not had any discussions with him on this issue so far. Let's see when he comes, and we have a meeting, only then we can say something." Meanwhile, former skipper Zaheer Abbas is supportive of moves to appoint Waqar as the bowling coach. "Look he is one of the greatest fast bowlers produced by Pakistan. I don't think there is a better person to do this sort of job than him. But it depends on what he wants," he added. Although the feeling is that Waqar would be a popular choice as bowling coach or to head the National Cricket Academy while Inzamam-ul-Haq is the captain, sources here told The News that at the moment relations between the two are not that good. Waqar is presently in India doing a studio-based program on the cricket series for Sahara Television.

Miandad lashes out at critics (Go To Top)

         Lahore: Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad has hit out at those critics who have questioned his work ethics and the ability of the team to beat India at home. The critics include some former players. Particularly annoyed and upset with a statement from the Board officials that the contracts of the coach and manager would be reviewed after the series, the coach insisted that his contract was for a two-year period and not one year. "I have a coaching contract until next year. But I am really disappointed with the way some people have tried to pressurize the team and management after just a few bad performances," he added. He, however, said, "I have a two-year contract but I will see if I want to continue as coach or not after the series is over. The last two weeks I have been terribly disappointed with the way some people have tried to run down the team and criticized the players unfairly." Pointing out that the same team had been performing well in recent months, he said: "How can anyone be so hard on this team and the management on the basis of just one or two bad performances. The fact that we were playing against a good team was overlooked by the critics." "I know for a fact that the boys have been working very hard despite the intense pressure on them. I have been working overtime on them since the series began. The reward we have got is not fair at all," he further said.

          Miandad whose previous two terms as Pakistan coach ended in controversial circumstances in April 1999 and April 2001 after reports of problems with the board and players said if the Board felt someone else could do a better job he would be willing to step aside. "I don't like anyone doubting my commitment and sincerity to the team and the hard work I have put in. I don't like anyone writing off my players. We don't need this pressure," he concluded.

Miandad, Haroon's necks on the chopping block: PCB (Go To Top)

          Lahore: The contracts of the Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad and team manager Haroon Rasheed would be reviewed after the ongoing India series, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has said. The contract of the two officials would end with the India series, and would be reviewed by the Board, the News quoted Khan as saying here Wednesday. Refused to say whether there were any plans to replace them, or continue with them, the chairman said: "Let us see. But there are some bare truths that anyone can see. We are concerned with the fact that the fielding standards of the team remain up and down. At times there appears to be a leadership crisis and more importantly the team tends to lose confidence and spirits in a matter of overs. It has happened constantly in and before this series and it worries us."

          Rejecting the idea of engaging a foreign coach, he said: "I don't think it has worked with our system and team. I was manager when Richard Pybus was coach. He is a very good coach and did his best to make the players comfortable. But I could see this arrangement didn't work out." Shaharyar also said any decision on having a fielding trainer, bowling coach or psychologist with the team would only be taken after the India series, but after the board had done a comprehensive review of the series and the team affairs and taken consensus decisions. "We know very well the ground realities and are aware of how much hard work someone is putting in including the players," he concluded.

Shaharyar denies quitting as PCB chairman (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has declined that he is planning to quit the post in the near future. He said that the Patron of the Board, Pervez Musharraf, had given him a three-year term to do the job. "It is just a baseless propaganda and nothing else, I have been directed by the President General Pervez Musharraf to continue for three years, but it purely depends on me for how long I want to be with the PCB," the News quoted him as saying in an interview with an international news agency. Indicating that he would streamline cricket affairs by preparing a new PCB constitution, he said: "I will soon be appointing a lawyers commission to prepare a new constitution which will be effective and a guideline for all cricket relating matters right from the top to bottom."

          Denying having any differences with PCB CEO Rameez Raja, he said he was enjoying complete harmony and understanding with him and was impressed with his organisational skills. "Rameez is a big support to me to deal with day-to-day affairs and I would love to continue with him because of his experience and abilities in the field of cricket," he added. When asked if coach Javed Miandad would be asked to continue, he said, it depends on the situation and if necessary he could be appointed chief coach or can also be replaced. "We need to introduce technology and new methods in the training and coaching of the team and Miandad lacks it. He must have new ways to improve the performance of the team as we are still using old methods which were not really effective to boost the performance of the team," he added. Admitting that the team lacked in various departments of the game, including bowling, fielding and physical fitness and match plans, he said: "We are giving away too many extras, and through our field placing which is not according to the need of time in a situation and this trend should be stopped to lift the performance of the team." The PCB chief concluded by saying that domestic cricket structure, cricket in educational institutions would also be reviewed after the series against India.