Test Preview: Pakistan in the shadow of inquiry (27 November 1998)

27 November 1998

Test Preview: Pakistan in the shadow of inquiry

By Qamar Ahmed in Peshawar

PAKISTAN captain Aamir Sohail, following his team's 2-1 win in the one-day series against Zimbabwe, is confident of a repeat performance in the three-match Test series starting here today.

His optimism is backed by the fact that Waqar Younis, having missed most of the English season and the Test matches against Australia because of an elbow injury, is back to full fitness to partner Wasim Akram. Aqib Javed, who was not in the 14 players named for the first Test, has also been recalled after fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar pulled out because of flu.

Also in the squad are the spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq, who are likely to be in the XI to be named before the toss.

"We are looking forward to a lot better performance against Zimbabwe than against Australia. Injury was our big problem against the Aussies," said Aamir.

The Pakistanis, however, are still haunted by the judicial inquiry investigating the bribery and match-fixing allegations against them.

Saqlain, who was supposed to appear on Wednesday but failed to do so, has been summoned again to appear at Lahore High Court tomorrow. One fails to understand how, if he is playing in the Test, he would be able to present himself to the judge.

The presiding judge has also issued a warning to the players to present their bank accounts and the assets of their spouses and families within the next two days.

After 11 players were ordered to submit their assets, only Ijaz Ahmed and Mushtaq have responded. Once again, the Pakistanis will be under the pressure of the court order.

Shane Warne has been fined £900 by the Australian Cricket Board for criticising an umpire during a recent match between Victoria and Western Australia.

Australian authorities yesterday gave the International Cricket Council three days to decide whether umpire Darrell Hair could officiate in a one-day series involving Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan authorities asked the ICC to take action against Hair, Australia's leading umpire, after he detailed in his autobiography why he no-balled spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)