Our job is to play cricket, says Hussain

Karachi, Oct 16: England captain Nasser Hussain put the past and present controversies behind him, emphasising that his team was looking forward to an exciting eight weeks in Pakistan.

"I don't know what happened in 1987. I was still at school then," he told a news conference with reference to the famous Shakoor Rana and Mike Gatting on-field verbal confrontation at Faisalabad that delayed England's tour of Pakistan for 13 years.

"We are focused on cricket and not bothered with pay dispute back home. It is an administrative problem while our job is to play," he commented on reports that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were contemplating freezing or even cutting their pays in the backdrop of a three million pounds shortfall in revenues.

The Englishmen arrived here in the wee hours of Monday on a 57-day tour. The visitors will play first of the three one-day internationals on Oct 24, as many Tests besides three first-class matches and two one-day warmup games. The tourists open the tour on Oct 20 with a oneday game.

"As far as Faisalabad is concerned, I am looking forward to a flat and good wicket," he said with a broad smile.

Hussain also refused to be drawn in the contoversy over Lord MacLaurin's (ECB chairman) statement who has called for life bans over six Pakistan players censured and fined by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum. "It is an administrative matter," he repeated.

Hussain, who is bidding to break England's 18-year series win drought against Pakistan, said past history was irrelevant as compared to the recent one. "And the recent history is that we beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in the Test series and also won the triangular contest."

England's victory over the West Indies was their first in 31 years and coach Duncan Fletcher described it as a perfect tonic for the series against Pakistan. "It is a great booster to come after defeating the West Indies. We have turned the corner and have excellent chance of winning here."

Hussain, 32, agreed with the former Zimbabwe captain, saying: "We wouldn't be here if we didn't rate our winning chances high. Everytime we step in to play for England, we enter with the conviction that we can win the Test and the series."

But the Essex batsman didn't mince words in saying that England supporters would be mistaken if they thought their team would win 3-0. "We have to be realistic in admitting that Pakistan are a very fine side, playing in their conditions with a lot of talent at their disposal.

"There will be very hard days in terms in batting, bowling, weather whatever with Pakistan on top. But we will have to wake up (every morning) and make sure that we force our way back in the matches. At no stage we will give up the games. We will fight for everything."

Hussain has other reasons to smile as well and did not hesitate to share with the newsmen. When asked how he felt with the news that Shoaib Akhtar will not be playing in the series, he said: "Very pleased."

Hussain, who captained England A on the 1995-96 tour of Pakistan, said he would be telling his players from his experience to just go out and continue the good work they have done in all English summer.

Moin Khan, Hussain's opposite number, said he was looking forward to a competitive series ahead. He avoided predictions but admitted that his team would be under pressure.

"There would be pressure not only because we start as favourites, but also because we will be playing in our backyard with all eyes focused on us."

Pakistan has lost its three last series' at home - to Australia and Zimbabwe two years ago and then to Sri Lanka earlier this year. But Moin was confident that his team would be back on track.

"Barring the semi-final of the knockout tournament, we played exceptional cricket in Tests in West Indies and Sri Lanka.

"We are confident. The boys are focused and determined to take the field. The latest call for inquiry has not affected the confidence and morale of the players," he said with reference to PCB's request to President Rafiq Tarar to investigate allegations of match-fixing in World Cup matches against Bangladesh and India.

Fletcher said he has received the list of panel of umpires in the series, saying he had no problems. He had a word of sympathy for the umpires saying the technology has put the men in white coat under tremendous pressure.

The England captain said he was pleased with the tour itinerary, admitting that he has got what he wanted. "We wanted more practice games which we have got.

"The boys are very keen to play in Pakistan because of the culture here. Cricketers are recognized, praised and followed in this part of the world while in England we are hardly recognized.

"We are happy with whatever we have got. There are absolutely no problems, worries or complains," Hussain concluded.

The England team which arrived here on Monday is:

Nasser Hussain (captain), Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Graeme Hick, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Mark Alleyne, Andrew Caddick, Mark Ealham, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard, Vikram Solanki and Craig White.

Michael Atherton, Michael Vaughan, Dominic Cork, Paul Nixon and Ian Salisbury will replace Mark Alleyne, Mark Ealham and Vikram Solanki for Test series.