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Rawalpindi Express not to run on Indian fields

     Lahore: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar today pulled out of the upcoming cricket Test series against India citing fitness problems. "I aggravated my injury a couple of days ago and now it seems that I will take four to five weeks to recover and play any competitive match," Shoaib told reporters in Lahore. Shoaib said he did not want to risk another breakdown in the midst of a series as it happened in Australia recently. The paceman, however, said he would consider playing the one-day series that would follow the three Tests provided he regained his fitness. "I am certainly not a candidate for the Tests, but if I recover by the time the one-day series begins, I will inform the Cricket Board. They can then select me if they feel the team requires me," the Rawalpindi Express said. His decision to pull out is also probably linked to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to severely reprimand him and fine him 500 dollars for his alleged misbehavior and indiscipline during the Pakistan cricket team's recent tour of Australia. The 29-year-old was accused of not playing his role in the side as a senior player effectively and of defying disciplinary conditions off the ground.

     A few days back, Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is believed to have told PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan that Shoaib should only be included in the side to tour India if he was fully fit. He is also believed to have mentioned Shoaib's disciplinary problems during that meeting. Of late, Shoaib's run-ins with the Pakistan cricket establishment have been frequent. During India's tour of Pakistan last year, he pulled out of the Lahore and Rawalpindi Tests at crucial junctures, facilitating eventually in India romping home to victory in both the Test and one-day series for the first time on Pakistani soil. Shoaib in his defence has claimed that he has been the only performing bowler for Pakistan in the last couple of years.

Pakistan to play ODI at Ahmedabad (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Pakistan has approved India's proposal to play an additional sixth one-day international at Ahmedabad instead of a test match as decided earlier. Making this announcement in Lahore after a high level meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board, its media advisor Abbas Zaidi said that the proposal had been formally cleared and other changes in the schedule had also been accepted. "Whatever has been proposed by BCCI has been accepted by us", said Abbas. Now, Kolkata will host the test, which was earlier supposed to be played at Ahmedabad. Pakistan refused to play test match at Ahmedabad citing security concerns, which had endangered the whole tour. The visiting team was earlier scheduled to arrive in India on February 25 to play three tests and five one-day internationals. But with Pakistan accepting the fresh proposal made by Indian Cricket Board yesterday and a pending television rights case, the start of the tour could be delayed by a week. Abbas praised BCCI for accepting Pak's reservations over playing the match in Ahmedabad and showing flexibility by coming up with a good alternative. The BCCI's working committee met in the Indian capital on Thursday to finalise the tour agenda and other issues, and offered Ahmedabad as the venue for a sixth one-day international. Just as India had expressed reservations about playing a Test match in Karachi during its March-April 2003 tour of Pakistan, Pakistan expressed serious doubts and even refused to play in Ahmedabad citing security concerns.

     Based on a recent report by PCB security team, the PCB had so far delayed the announcement of the final tour schedule and the names of the players who will tour India from February 25. In the wake of the 2002 communal riots in Ahmedabad and in other parts of Gujarat following the Godhra train carnage, which claimed nearly 2000 lives, the PCB so far said that political compulsions and security concerns could endanger its tour of India. Worse, Hindu fundamentalists also voiced their anger at the proposed visit and a few of them threatened to disrupt the matches. PCB Chief Shaharyar had blamed the BCCI for suggesting Ahmedabad."Had the BCCI not proposed Ahmedabad as a venue the matter would not have gone this far. Now through newspapers we read that some political parties have raised this issue and with each passing day they will put more pressure," he said. But, all is well that ends well. Now Pakistan are set to play three Tests and six One-day Internationals on their first full tour of India since 1999. The announcement of the final schedule is likely to be made soon.

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