News and Views

Pakistan squad for the Caribbean tour

The 17-member Pakistan cricket team for the 8-week tour of the West Indies has been announced. The team will participate in a triangular tournament between Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the hosts, starting from April 5, to be closely followed by a 3-Test rubber between Pakistan and the West Indies.

In view of the stars like Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mahmood on the sick list, the squad named below is essentially meant for the triangular one-day series. Depending on the health state and availability of these players, some changes might be made for the Test matches. The speed merchants Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar also recovering from groin trouble are likely to join the team a week later.

With some top players not fully fit and too many rookies stuffed there in, it cannot be termed as a strong outfit to face the Windies on their soil. The inclusion of leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed after a forced rest is likely to strengthen the bowling. The batting will have to click like it did in the second match against India at Sharjah. The absence of Ijaz Ahmed, who appears to have been dumped permanently, is badly felt. His inclusion in place of out-of-form Naved Ashraf would have strengthened the batting line-up. The team will have to adopt a fully professional approach if Pakistan desires to accomplish the long-cherished dream of a Test series win in the Caribbean.

The squad: Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Wajahatullah Wasti, Mohammad Wasim, Naved Ashraf, Abdur Razzaq, Moin Khan (captain), Atiq-uz-Zaman, Mushtaq Ahmed, Arshad Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram.

Asian Cricket Foundation

The Asian Cricket Council has decided to form an Asian Cricket Foundation. Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, who is also the current chairman of the ACC, will head the foundation that will include Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Jagmohan Dalmiya, Asif Iqbal and Ashraf Ahmed as members.

The foundation is being established to look after the ACC's financial aspects in a more professional manner. Mr Abdul Rahman Bukhatir of the CBFS is said to have promised to raise $15 million through sponsorships and other means in two years time for development work in the region. While the present system of shifting the ACC's headquarters to member countries in rotation will continue the financial affairs of the organisation will be controlled from the UAE.

The foundation will surely provide a strong financial base to the ACC apart from its expansion and involvement of more members to look after the development of cricket in Asia.

Coaching of Young Players

The Pakistan Cricket Board has planned to launch a comprehensive program for the training and coaching of young and upcoming cricketers from the year 2001. Ian Chappell and Barry Richards are said to have agreed to impart the coaching. Four highly-talented youngsters from ACC associate member countries will be invited for a month-long training course in Pakistan every year.

It is a positive step towards the harnessing and grooming of young cricketers. If other full members of the ACC like India and SriLanka also offer similar facilities to train players from countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Maldives, Nepal etc, it will facilitate these states to get into the main stream of Asian cricket much earlier.

Courtney Walsh's Record

The cricket lovers in Pakistan have rejoiced Courtney Walsh's record epic of becoming the Test cricket's highest wicket-taker. He broke Kapil Dev's six-year old record of 434 wickets in his 114th Test, 17 less than Kapil. With the consistency that he maintained throughout his career, he very much deserved to cross the milestone. His feelings of being "tired and drained" are natural because it is not easy for a fast bowler to stay fit and keep going for so long. One must be a very strong-minded person, not only to last but also to retain the best form for so many years. Pakistan congratulates Courtney Walsh on this historical achievement.

Umpires Training

A week-long training course for umpires is being held at Doha, Qatar, from 1-6 April 2000. Umpire Mahboob Shah from Pakistan is conducting the course under the ICC's Development programme for Asia. Mahboob Shah represented Pakistan in the first ICC Panel of Umpires and supervised important matches during the World Cup Championships in 1987, 1992 and 1996. He lately conducted similar courses in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh and Malaysia under the auspices of ICC.

A Flawed Genius

"Shahid Afridi, who holds the enviable record of scoring the fastest century in One-day Internationals, suffers from some disconcerting weaknesses" observes Faroq Zaman, a cricket fan from Lahore, in a letter published in a national daily.

He adds further, "Afridi has great batting potential but does not know how to make best use of it. He often prepares himself for a big hit even before the ball is delivered, but has failed to learn that pre-meditated hitting is often suicidal. He crosses 50 once in a while, but is unable to convert it into a 100 which is a big setback for the team.

One cannot disagree with the observations and opinions of Mr Farooq Zaman. Shahid Afridi is a highly talented player. It is his inherent potential that is keeping him in the team, on the hope that a day will come when he will overcome his weaknesses and become a dependable member of the team. Coach Javed Miandad is working hard to eliminate his defects. Efforts are also under way to infuse the requisite sense of responsibility in him and to improve his temperament.