Pitches to be revamped, says Tauqir

Lahore, Nov 20: PCB chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia said that pitches at all major centres of the country would be re-vamped to make them result-oriented for Tests and other matches.

Replying to a question at a reception hosted in honour of the Pakistan cricket team at a local hotel, the PCB chairman said that the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) had been assigned the task to make a survey and prepare a report.

The function was hosted by the International Women's Club.

Gen Tauqir said that preparing "sporting" pitches was part of a plan to make the game a really popular pastime in Pakistan and to make domestic matches the "family affairs".

Dilating on the subject, the former Test opener Geoff Boycott said that the soil institute of the USA could be consulted by the PCB for the task of preparing sporting pitches.

"Dead tracks were producing dull draws and driving spectators away from Tests in Pakistan and other countries. This is a tragedy! The game will die an unceremonious death if crowds were not attracted back to the stadia. Pakistan can initiate day and night Tests to make them attractive for those lovers of the game, who cannot take leave from their jobs", said Geoff Boycott.

A majority of the members of the Pakistan team replied to questions of the ladies in a lively mood.

The function was attended by the following:

Moin Khan (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Qaiser Abbas, Danish Kaneria.

Replying to a question, Moin Khan said that good fielders were emerging on the national scene because standard of grounds had improved. Boys were diving for catches or stopping balls without fear of injuries now. They were proving a blessing for the team as 20 to 30 runs saved during a match through good fielding meant a lot for the team.

Wasim Akram said that he had always wished to be a fast bowler and Imran Khan was his ideal.

To a question, Saeed Anwar said that the opener's job was the most difficult one in cricket. He used to bat in the middle-order but was asked by his captain Imran Khan to open the innings. "In the beginning, I failed but gradually came up to the expectations of my seniors", Saeed said.

Geoff Boycott said that he used to bat at No 5 or 6 but his skipper Brian Close asked him to open the innings otherwise he would not be included in the Yorkshire county team. He agreed with Saeed Anwar that the opener's job was difficult and specialised one. He said that he rated Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh as the best batsmen and Glenn McGrath as the best bowler of present times.

Yousuf Youhana, while replying to a question, said that he started playing in streets of Lahore with a rough stick used for washing clothes resembling a bat and a tennis-ball. He was inspired by his brothers but his ideal cricketer had always been Javed Miandad.

Abdur Razzaq said that he did not use any special trick to get Sachin Tendulkar out but always tried to put in his best for Pakistan. He said that he was selected as a bowler but always took his batting seriously too! Wasim Akram interjected that he tried Abdur Razzaq as a one-down batsman on the persuasion of the former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood.

Imran Nazir said that he got guidance from Wasim Akram and he worked hard to improve his fielding.