The Pakistan Cricket Board Council meeting was held /today at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore to review the performance of Pakistan Cricket Team against the visiting Australia and Zimbabwe Teams. Mr Khalid Mahmood was in the Chair. It was generally felt that there was nothing wrong with the composition of the team. The boys however did not perform to their full potential.
Different views were expressed by the members. Low standards of physical fitness, poor fielding, lack of application and team spirit were cited as some of the reasons. Some members felt that the legal suit pending in the High Court about betting and match fixing and the news appearing in the press also had a psychological effect on the minds of the players badly affecting their performance.
The Chairman and members of the selection committee, Javed Miandad the Coach, Aamer Sohail the Captain, Hanif Mohammad were also called in to express their views about the team's poor performance.
They considered the above mentioned factors mainly responsible for the subdued performance.
In the end the council decided to maintain the status quo by making no change in captaincy or any other appointment.
Those handling the affairs of the team were advised to motivate the team, raise morale of the players, inculcate fighting, spirit among the boys so that they can give their best in the coming encounters.

Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
Advisor Public Relations PCB
8th December 1998

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