Pakistan want more (13 May 1999)
Faced with the prospect of launching their World Cup challenge with rust forming on an attack which carries their greatest hope of success, Pakistan are attempting to arrange an extra warm-up game in advance of Sunday's Group B opener against the
13-May-1999
13 May 1999
Pakistan want more
Neil Hallam
Faced with the prospect of launching their World Cup challenge with
rust forming on an attack which carries their greatest hope of
success, Pakistan are attempting to arrange an extra warm-up game in
advance of Sunday's Group B opener against the West Indies at Bristol.
Yesterday's washout at Old Trafford followed severely rain-affected
trips to Derbyshire and Durham to leave Pakistan as the least
prepared of the World Cup participants and prompted a plea to the
organisers for 'special case' help.
Tour manager Zafar Altaf explained: "It is a serious disappointment
that we have not played a single complete game and it represents such
a disadvantage that I am hoping an extra match can be arranged in
Bristol. Our batsmen have faced only 60 overs and the bowlers have
managed only 17 so we need time in the middle.
"We would be grateful for more time for the players, especially the
youngsters who have not been here before, to acclimatise."
One ripple of controversy has caused a redistribution of
responsibility within the Pakistan camp with coach Mushtaq Mohammad,
appointed last weekend, taken off media liaison after being quoted as
criticising the England selectors in one Sunday paper.
Dr Altaf commented: "Mushtaq is adamant that he did not not say such
things and in future I will be dealing with the media."
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)