Pakistan A refuse to play on damaged pitch in New Zealand

The visiting side refused to emerge from their changing rooms at the delayed start time after repair work had been completed to the satisfaction of the umpires.

The New Zealand A team were therefore awarded the match. Pakistan A were due to continue their second innings at 15 without loss, still 164 runs behind New Zealand A.

Pakistan A manager Wasim Bhatti expressed disappointment with both the umpires and the Northern Districts association over the affair.

Bhatti felt his side should have been given more time to prepare after the decision was made by umpires Evan Watkin and Bill Sommer that the pitch was fit for play.

``My boys were very mentally perturbed. There were a lot of spots on a good length and I was trying to convince them out of a mental shock,'' Bhatti said.

Bhatti said he was unable to contact the chairman and chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board for further advice because it was about midnight in Pakistan.

``Instead of fixing the problem, we were met with a threatening attitude and not given enough time to convince our players,'' Bhatti said.

The groundstaff discovered the damaged pitch Sunday morning, with several small holes dug and the surface scratched around the stumps area at both ends of the pitch.

Bhatti described the spot, just short of a good length, as ``very dangerous''.