Rebuilding of team to begin with Sri Lankan tour

Karachi, Jan 17: The rebuilding phase of the Pakistan team for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa will start with the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and that will be supervized by a bunch of selectors, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia told reporters at the National Stadium on Monday.

He hinted that some of the faces presently in Australia might not be around when Pakistan play Sri Lanka in three Tests and as many one-day internationals from Feb 13.

He said the preparations for building a formidable one-day team will be assigned to a selection committee which was likely to be announced sometime this week.

He said the selectors can be anyone. The advisory panel would decide who would be in the selectors panel

Lt-Gen Tauqir also floated the idea of having separate teams for Tests and limited overs internationals. He said there were quite a few cricketers who might not be around for the 2003 World Cup but they were still useful in Tests.

"The players who I think will not be in 2003 will be picked in Tests while we will give opportunity to budding cricketers to adjust and cement their places in teams for one-day cricket," he remarked.

He stressed that it is premature to announce the plan at this time. But he minced no words in saying that some players might not be considered for selection in the series against Sri Lanka.Stressing the need for injecting fresh blood into the team, he said Aamir Sohail was on stand-bye and may be sent to Australia to bolster the top order. He said he would be contacting the tour management there on Monday evening to seek their opinion whether they required some reinforcement.

"The top order is struggling because the openers are not being allowed to settle down. Every time you see a new partner with Saeed Anwar," he commented.

He said Intikhab Alam's contract will be reviewed but hinted that in the home series, no coach will be appointed. "Our team doesn't need a coach but a good manager along with a professional physiotherapist."

The general said he would not restore the PCB executive council and the general body "because then you can't work as you would like to.