Pakistan captain Waqar Younis and coach Richard Pybus Wednesday morning met the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Lt Gen Tauqir Zia in Rawalpindi and discussed the team's performance against Australia.

The Pakistan captain and coach briefed the PCB Chairman the reasons for the team's defeat against Australia in the three-Test series. The two team officials also informed the PCB Chairman about the individual capacity of every player and stressed that some of the boys deserved to be playing at the highest level.

Waqar and Pybus told the PCB Chairman that the difference between the two teams was experience. "Australia had the top seven batsmen averaging in 40s while two of their four bowlers shared nearly 870 wickets between them. In contrast, the Pakistan team was young and still in learning stages. Pakistan boys had the talent and potential but it was their inexperience to handle the pressure that let them down", Pybus told Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

The PCB Chairman gave them a patient hearing but also conveyed to them that the team needs to improve its performance drastically and quickly on the tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The PCB Chairman also discussed the Zimbabwe and South African tours with Waqar and Pybus and sought their views on the composition of the team. Their opinions will be forwarded to the selection committee. The selection committee will meet in Lahore on Saturday and the will announce the team later in the day.

The Chairman once again assured Waqar and Pybus of his full support and hoped that the youngsters would benefit from their experience and commitment to the game.

Samiul Hasan
GM Media
October 23, 2003

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