Skipper ready for new challenges: Suspension of players remains a mystery, says Akram

Toronto, Sept 16: The reinstated Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has reiterated his resolve to keep on playing with great determination. "I'm quite relieved and happy to be back in the Pakistan team," said Akram during a joint press conference with his West Indian counterpart Brian Lara, ahead of their three-match series at the Toronto Cricket, Curling and Skating Club here on Wednesday.

The 18-member Pakistan team, which flew in here from London on Tuesday night, will take on the West Indies in the first game of the final phase of the Toronto Cricket Festival '99 today (Thursday). Their other matches are scheduled for Sept 18 and 19.

When asked to explain the mystery behind his suspension and sudden reinstatement as team captain Wasim Akram said with a smile: "It's a mystery to me as well."

However, he said that the whole Pakistan team did well during the 1999 World Cup in England and yet the players had to go through a difficult time.

"That was unfair for we did not do anything wrong," he remarked.

Earlier, the team manager Yawar Saeed disagreed with a questioner that since Wasim Akram is back in the team, the Pakistan Cricket Board should also be reinstated.

"These are two different issues," he said.

The Chairman of the Cricket Board's ad hoc committee, Mujibur Rehman who also arrived here on Monday from London told Dawn that dynamic efforts are being made to "streamline cricket affairs." He said everything is now moving in the right direction though a lot more has to be done.

After the team's practice, coach Wasim Raja told newsmen that all the players are in "good shape" and eagerly waiting for the series.

"There is no injury problem whatsoever ," he added.

Brian Lara whose team had net practice later in the afternoon said that the Indian bowlers did a terrific job to win the series here. He conceded that his team, which is being rebuilt 'around young but highly talented players,' could not come up to the expectations and lost the series 2-1.

"We hope to do better against Pakistan," he concluded.

Pakistan press slammed: At a pre-tournament press conference, Wasim refused to go into details over the scandal of alleged match-fixing which led him and fellow internationals Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik to be suspended pending the outcome of a judicial inquiry. Wasim has now been exonerated, adds AFP.

However, he told Canadian reporters: "Don't believe everything you read in the Pakistani press."

He claimed the whole affair was essentially made up by the Pakistani media and he had been the victim of "three members of the (Pakistan Cricket) Board who don't know anything about cricket."

Wasim managed a smile as he described his latest comeback as "starting from scratch, for the fifth time".

He said the scandal had been difficult for him and for the whole Pakistani team, but now "everyone is looking forward; I am quite relieved and happy to be back in the Pakistani team."

Wasim refused to discuss the possible fates of Ahmed and Malik.

Shoaib pulls out: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has withdrawn from the series because of a continuing shoulder injury.

A spokesman for the Toronto Cricket Festival said Thursday that Akhtar, who has been suffering from the injury for 10 days, had been recommended by the tournament doctor to rest his shoulder for at least two to three weeks.

He added that Akhtar would be flying back to Pakistan immediately.