PCB appoints Australian physio

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed an Australian physio Dale Naylor on a long-term basis, it is reliably learnt. According to highly placed sources in Lahore close to the PCB, the Australian physiotherapist has been asked to take charge of the Pakistani team from the Cocoa-Cola Trophy in Sharjah (March 22-31) onwards. The physio cum physical trainer is also likely to continue with the team for the Windies tour, Bangladesh (for the Asia Cup) and the tour to Sri Lanka which lasts up to July 13.

It may be recalled that the PCB had utilised the services of Naylor for Pakistan's last Aussie tour. However, with his busy schedule, Naylor had skipped the current series against Sri Lanka. Naylor is associated with the Surrey team in England. He has been presently also treating Azhar Mehmood. The Pakistan all rounder, who is in England now, had to miss the current series against Sri Lanka due to a groin injury.

With Naylor's appointment, the services of their noted sports medicine specialist Dr. Riaz Ahmed's term would come to an end. Naylor had satisfactorily worked with the Pakistan players and all team members are believed to have expressed satisfaction over his appointment. In recent days, not only the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, General Tauqir Zia but even the captain Saeed Anwar had emphasised that there was a great need for the team members to improve upon their fitness level to compete with the best teams in the world.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, at its own expense, is likely to send at least three to four extra players on tours which would enable to provide young blood to groom. In the meantime, Rashid Latif is believed to have sent a fax to the board saying his availability for the tours. In the absence of their regular injured (knee problem persists after having undergone MRI scan) wicket-keeper Moin Khan, Latif has a chance to make comeback into the team. Latif is said to have gone to Bangladesh to play club cricket.