Taylor says statements reiterate old position (8 October 1998)

8 October 1998

Taylor says statements reiterate old position

Farhana Ayaz

Australian skipper Mark Taylor has said that the decision to appear before the one-man judicial commission, to record statements for the match-fixing and bribery allegations levelled against Salim Malik four years ago, was their bit to assist the investigations being carried out by the Pakistan government.

Talking to Dawn, Taylor said, now it was upto the judicial commission to reach any decisions as the Australian cricketers would do no more after recording their statements in camera.

"We decided to record our statements on the first day off after the Test as a request was placed by the justice investigating the issue about a week back and we were obliged to go," Taylor said.

The Australian captain, however, hoped the decision to record the statement would not be a reason to increase tension during the tour when asked to comment on its repercussions.

"I certainly hope not," Taylor said while adding that the statement recorded does not reveal anything new than the allegations levelled four years ago.

He said that the contents of the statements can not be released because they were held in camera.

He also denied that there were any tense moments during the first Test while facing up Salim Malik when on a couple of occasions Australian fielders appeared to have kicked the ball towards the non-striking end on Malik strokes. "No, I don't believe this has happened," he said.

AUSSIE SQUAD AGAINST RDCA: Australia want to keep their winning streak going in the current tour when they take on RDCA in their second four-day match from Oct 8 at the new look KRL cricket ground.

"The aim is to keep the good thing going," Australian skipper said while referring to the massive victories clinched at tour opener at Karachi and then the historic Test triumph on Pakistani soil in 39 years.

Australia have decided to rest pacer Glenn McGrath and middle order batsman Steve Waugh for the second four-day match. Queenland's Michael Kasprowicz will join Damien Fleming for the pace attack while Ricky Ponting will take the place of Steve Waugh. The first eleven will be announced on the morning of the four-day game.

"We have decided to give a chance to the players who didn't play the Test," Taylor said.

Commenting on the wicket the Australian skipper said, it looks pretty good and they would go all out to get the required practice before the second Test starting Oct 15 at Peshawar.

On the second Test Taylor added that although most of his team members are feeling more comfortable while in the sub-continent than ever before, yet Peshawar was one wicket they have limited knowledge about. "It is one of the disadvantages of being the touring party that don't come to know about the type of wicket till two days from the game and then one has to make all considerations while finalising the team."

Agreeing that the side selected for the first Test at Rawalpindi was a "gamble" since it included a debutant and two players who had played just one Test match before, Taylor said that they intend to keep that going. "As long as it pays off we intend to keep the gamble going," he said.

Of the three new comers, Colin Miller, 32, who was termed the "surprise" of the tour by the Australian captain became 379th Test cap for Australia when he was played at Rawalpindi in the first Test. Miller finished with figures of 1 for 65 in first innings and 2 for 30 in the second.

Left-handed middle order batsman Darren Scott Lehmann had only played one Test against India at Bangalore early this year where he made 52 and also took a wicket for 27 runs. Lehmann went on to make 98 off 180 balls.

Rookie leg spinner Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill who is on tour because Shane Warne is recuperating from a shoulder operation, turned out to be one of the most devastating factors in Pakistan's debacle when he finished with a match haul of 9 for 113, (5 for 66 and 4 for 47).

AUSTRALIAN PRACTICE: The tourists held a three-hour net practice at the KRL stadium under their coach Geoff Marsh and skipper Mark Taylor.

A seating stand is the new addition to the KRL ground as the new main pavilion is under construction. It would include player's dressing rooms, umpires room, media room, etc. It is to be completed next year.

"We are running short of finances but we are definitely working hard to complete the building by next year," Mansoor Ahmed, officer-incharge of KRL stadium told Dawn Wednesday. The KRL management has set its eyes on holding a Test match here by next year.

DAMIEN FLEMING DEMONSTRATES TO STUDENTS: A bunch of St. Mary School students were given a lecture and demonstration on fast bowling by Australian pacer Damien Fleming accompanied by manager Steve Bernard at KRL ground.

The rare opportunity was made possible by St. Mary's principal Sister Ellianne Daffy who is from Australia.

The keen students asked Aussie pacer many questions and were not disappointed during the 20-minute chat. "Most of the students play cricket while others are cricket fans," manager Ralph Cross said.

RDCA TEAM: Rawalpindi Division Selection Committee headed by Sarfraz Ahmed has shortlisted 18 cricketers including the four Pakistan players for the four-day match.

Nadeem Abbasi will lead the side while Shakil Ahmed has been nominated as the vice captain. The team is set to include Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Azhar Mehmood and Ijaz Ahmed with the aim of providing a chance to get the cricketers into rhythm.

The other probables include Jaffer Nazir, Zahir Shah, Naseer Ahmed, Asif Mehmood, Naeem Akhtar, Tassawar Hussain, Arif Butt, Shahid Javed, Azhar Bhatti, Yasir Arfat, Pervaz Iqbal and Mohammad Naveed.

Test pacer Shoaib Akhtar and Test discard Mohammad Akram have shown their inability to play because of personal commitments, RDCA selection committee chairman Sarfraz Ahmed said. However, both Shoaib and Akram were given a hard time by the Sargodha batsmen in the Quaid-i-Azam trophy opener that ended in a draw. For that matter Test pacer Waqar Younis who appeared as guest player for the KCCA did not do well as he lacked fitness and form. Pakistan selection committee chairman Wasim Bari also watched a part of the game.

The final RDCA team will be announced on the morning of the match. Sabih Azhar and Raja Sarfraz will be the manager and coach of the side.

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)