Shoaib's attitude no problem

The manager of the Pakistan cricket team Yawar Saeed Monday said the youngsters would not be affected by the humiliating exit of some of the senior players for the training camp which began at the National Stadium.

The former Somerset player also dispelled impressions that `bad boy' Shoaib Akhtar's negative attitude had polluted the dressing room atmosphere and team's morale. "I don't think the yougsters will be mentally affected by the absence of senior players. I haven't discussed this issue with them nor I intend to because it is not their concern," Yawar told reporters.

Wasim Akram, who began his glittering career when some of the camp attendees might have been toddlers, and Moin Khan were dumped by the selectors for a reconditioning camp for the forthcoming season during which Pakistan will play 12 Tests and 20 odd one-day internationals.

Yawar refused to agree to the logic that situation of uncertainty must be prevailing in the Pakistan camp in the background of Wasim and Moin's controversial ousters.

Yawar desperately tried to cover up the follies of the selectors when he said players not invited for the camp would get chance to impress the selectors in practice matches. He said the decision had been taken by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia.

"I make one thing very clear. It is not necessary that the squad for the season opening Test will be composed from the 27 probables invited for the camp. Any players performing in practice games will stand a good chance to earn a recall," Yawar said. He said the camp rejectees would form a squad which would test the abilities of the squad comprising camp trainees. He said the matches will be played on Aug 14 and 20 under lights.

"Although I am not part of the selection committee, in fact I am not in any decision-making committee, but I do air my views, observations and recommendations. "I would not comment on the exclusion of Wasim Akram but there can't be no two opinions that he is one of the greatest. I was a selector when he first appeared on the scene, then I was the manager of the team in which Wasim first went as a player. I have seen the graph of Wasim's performance reach sky-high," he said.

Yawar said during the tour of England, Wasim was a role model for the youngsters. Ironically, Faqir Aizazuddin, who went as manager on the tour to New Zealand, had claimed in his report that Wasim was a negative influence over the players. On Shoaib Akhtar, who has become a permanent liability on the PCB, Yawar said he was not a bad influence on the team.

"Everybody has an attitude, positive or negative. But I confirm that his attitude is not affecting the team," Yawar summed up Shoaib's approach in a diplomatic manner.

The manager said he or the captain would have no objection to Shoaib's inclusion if he was fit. "A fit Shoaib is an asset." Yawar said he has been conveyed by the establishment that a coach would be appointed during the camp. He, nevertheless, said that the concept that coach would change everything was wrong. "I believe its the captain who is the coach in the field. It's the captain who has to get the best out of his boys." Yawar said the basic objective of the training camp would be the make the players mentally and physically stronger.