Board chief says Pakistan team will bounce back
AFP
20 December 1998
FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Dec 20 (AFP) - Pakistan Cricket chief
Khalid Mahmood Sunday denied a rift in the national team saying
all was not lost after the successive defeats in series against
Australia and Zimbabwe.
``We have lost two series in a row but it is cricket and this is
very unfortunate that people do not accept defeat as a defeat,
they start spreading things like rift in the team and between
officials,'' Mahmood told AFP.
Pakistan lost to Australia in October. Zimbabwe, 1-0 up in the
ongoing series, were heading towards their first series win as a
Test playing team in 1992.
Commentators say an apparent row between Mahmood and Pakistan
Cricket Board's chief executive, Majid Khan, has affected the PCB
working and rift between team members had led to dismal
performances in the home series.
``We were very close to square the series against Zimbabwe in
Lahore but weather intervened, so this should be taken as bad
luck,'' Mahmood said.
Cricket officials were subjected to harsh criticism for
scheduling the matches in unsuitable conditions and venues.
Punjab province had dense fog and play in the second and third
Tests against Zimbabwe was disrupted after the tourists won the
opening encounter last month.
Moreover the last day of the third and final Test at Faisalabad
falls in the Moslem holy month of Ramadan to the annoyance of the
fans.
``It is not ill-planning but the heavy fog in Punjab is quite
unusual. We did not know it will happen, it has plagued even the
daily life,'' Mahmood said.
It was time to look ahead and plan the tour of India in January
after a lapse of about 11 years and the World Cup in England in
1999, he stressed.
``The next thing on our cards is the Indian tour for which we are
planning,'' Mahmood said.
However, the 10-week tour for two Tests, three one-dayers and a
Test of the Asian Test championship faces threats of disruption
by militants of an anti-Pakistan coalition partner of the Indian
government.
The Hindu fundamentalist Shiv Sena has threatened to prevent the
Pakistani team playing in India.
But Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said he will
not allow the militants to disturb the tour.
Mahmood said: ``As far as we are concerned the tour is on.
``It is up to the Indian Cricket Board to make sure things do not
go awry.''
Mahmood and Majid Khan toured India recently to finalise the tour
after the two governments gave the go ahead.
``We will monitor the matters like threats and security fears till
the last moment,'' Mahmood said.
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