PCB council makes no changes in the team (9 December 1998)

9 December 1998

PCB council makes no changes in the team

By Our Sports Correspondent

LAHORE, Dec 8: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) council which met here today decided not to make any changes in the team till the end of Zimbabwe's current tour.

Briefing the mediamen the PCB media officer Col (retd.) Rafi Nasim said that after heated debates the council members established a consensus that any change at present stage would not favour the team. The captain Aamir Sohail and coach Javed Miandad have been retained.

He said that Aamir Sohail, Javed Miandad and three member selection committee headed by Wasim Bari with Salahuddin and Shafique Ahmad all explained their points of view before the council members.

Aamir Sohail and Javed Miandad were unanimous in their views that the players lacking in physical fitness as well as frequent changes were the root causes of the poor performanceby the team, he said.

Wasim Bari said that changes had to be made because of fitness problems of the players.

Asked if the physical fitness was the main problem with the players then had the council discussed the performance of physiotherapist Dan Keisel, Col Rafi surprisingly said "No! Keisel was not discussed in the meeting."

While replying to another question he said that the council did not discuss Aamir Sohail's press statement against the selection committee after losing the Peshawar Test against Zimbabwe.

Javed Miandad said that he was giving special attention to improve the fielding of the players.

The members expressed their concern over the ongoing judicial commission investigations into the betting allegations against some Pakistan cricketers and were of the view that it was also disturbing the players, Nasim said.

Col Rafi Nasim said that Pakistan team would tour India next month as the PCB had received permission from Pakistan government as well as from the Indian government. To decide the venues of the matches of the tour, PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood and chief executive Majid Khan would go to India most probably in the second week of this month, he said. The dates of the matches have already been decided.

He neither denied nor confirmed when asked if Salim Malik is coming back into the team for the second Test to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium from Dec 10.

"The selectors can induct any player in the team out of the 18 probables who are attending the training camp," Rafi Nasim said.

All the council members, except one from the Pakistan Universities, attended the meeting.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)