Qamar Ahmed: Pakistan 'A' return today from England (21 Aug 1997)

21 August 1997

Pakistan 'A' return today from England

By Qamar Ahmed

LONDON, Aug 20: The Pakistan 'A' team returns home on Thursday after their 54-day tour of England. They played 14 matches of which they won five, lost five and had four drawn games. They won four of their five one-day matches and one of their nine first-class games against the counties.

Their first-class victory come against a strong Somerset side at Taunton. they were beaten by Derbyshire, MCC, Yorkshire and the ECBXI. They have done well considering the raw talent and the inexperience. "Most of all, we are going back home with the image of the country and that of our's untarnished. The behaviour of the boys was exemplary and we are proud of that," said the manager of the team Mr Justice Ejaz Yousuf at a reception hosted in their honour by former Test cricketer Col. Shujauddin and his friends. To the delight of the young team, there were former Test cricketers of Pakistan like Asif Iqbal, Sarfraz Nawaz, Khan Mohammad and Alimuddin to greet the at Southhall in Middlesex.

"There were minor hiccups, such as some of the sub-standard accommodation that we were provided on the tour and unprepared pitches to play such as at Headingley. We have made a complaint about that and would let our cricket board know about as well," said Agha Zahid, the coach of the team who served as manager team and physio because of the delayed arrival of Ejaz Yousuf (manager) and Eric Johnson (Physio). Pakistan Cricket Board representative in England, Mr Ehsan Mani, did not visit the team during the whole tour, according to Mr Ijaz Yousuf. The star of the tour was allrounder Azhar Mahmood who in eight first class matches scored 379 runs at an average of 31.58 with 92 his highest in the last match of the tour against the ECB XI. Besides, he also captured 40 wickets at 20.72 . He looks to be a prospect for Pakistan. Saleem Elahi topped the batting averages with 625 runs at an average of 48.07 in eight first-class games. He hit a blistering 229 against Worcestershire.

Hasan Raza, who for some mind-boggling reasons was flown back from London to join the Asia Cup, missed three matches on the tour. In six first-class matches, he scored 349 at 34.90 with 96 his highest. The century-makers on the tour were Mohammad Wasim, who scored a flawless 155 against Yorkshire, Ali Naqvi, who scored a hundred against the MCC, and, of course, Saleem Elahi.

Javed Qadeer, the wicket-keeper, played a few fighting innings and kept the wickets neatly.

There were some good batting performances by Rana Qayyum, Farhan Adil and Abdul Razzaq who besides his batting also grabbed 23 wickets on tour.

Amongst the bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar, a rightarm medium-fast bowler, was very impressive. He is strong, fast and menacing and or future prospect like Azhar Mahmood. Shoaib akhtar had 25 wickets on the tour at an average of 29.88. Shoaib Malik, the off spinner had 12 victims and leg-spinner Ali Hussain Rizvi, had 23. Irfan Fazil bowled well but without luck.

Shoaib Akhtar, according to Agha Zahid, is the find of the tour. "At times, he bowled as fast as Waqar Younis. He is a quick learner and looks ready for the big occasion," Zahid says.

"I would expect about four or five boys of this team to play for Pakistan," added the coach.

The youngsters, according to the manager, Ijaz Yousuf, have learnt a lot on this tour and would be richer for that when the time comes for them to don the Pakistan cap.

" It is a pity that the team was not given any Tests or one-day against England a team. When England A came to Pakistan, they played three 'Tests' and three one-days, "said Agha Zahid.

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