Waqar says fire burning in his boys

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis Monday said his team was hungry for international cricket but regretted that match-fixing allegations and inquiry has brought bad name to the country, people and players.

"We haven't played international cricket for sometime which makes players hungry for success. I am going with a positive approach and happy with the form the boys have shown in domestic cricket," a determined Waqar said from Lahore.

A 15-man squad and four officials leave for the desert city Tuesday where the tri-nation one-day series commences Friday. Pakistan will play Zimbabwe on Saturday and then face defending champions Sri Lanka on Sunday in the double league competition.

Waqar said cancellation of New Zealand series had provided excellent opportunity to the players to fall on back on domestic cricket and sort out their problems.

"Lack of international cricket has kept the fire burning in the boys and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't excel in Sharjah." But I would like to see boys play with the same spirit, zest and commitment they have shown under my captaincy and particularly in England.

"I am taking this tournament as a personal challenge because I haven't won any title as captain. I want to achieve something as skipper and it would be an icing on the cake if it comes in Sharjah where we lost to Sri Lanka the last time we played there," Waqar said, adding: "I am looking forward to avenging April's defeat from Sri Lanka."

Waqar has captained Pakistan in three one-day tournaments - in Singapore in September 2000, in Sharjah in April this year and in England in June. Pakistan lost the finals of all the competitions. Cruelly, in Singapore Pakistan defeated South Africa in the league match to lose the title game to Proteas while in Sharjah, Pakistan had the better of Sri Lanka in both the league matches only to falter in the big match. In England, Pakistan won a league game against Australia before losing a lopsided final at Lord's.

I have been a bit unlucky as well. We have choked in the finals on all the three occasions after playing almost faultless cricket in the league matches.

Probably the players have buckled under pressure. The batsman have shown signs of immaturity by playing some reckless strokes. "But we have talked in detail this time and the most important thing I have stressed to the boys is to consume 50 overs. We have to play our quota to keep our chances alive."

Waqar repeated his call for best-of-three finals. "I think it is delaying the inevitable because it is injustice to teams who have played better cricket throughout the competition to lose in the final because of one bad day.

"We were given to understand that this time the Sharjah finals will be best-of-three but may be because of the situation, it didn't materialize."

Waqar said his heart goes out for his players when allegations of betting and match-fixing were hurled and stressed it was unfortunate that an inquiry commission was set up even if one finger was pointed at any result.

We are the only country who are continuing its investigations while all the boards have concluded their probe to allow their players play tension-free cricket.

"The saddest part is that it is the country, people and players who getting the bad name. We are now the laughing stock. It hurts me deeply because instead of first determining the evidence, the players are called and made to go through the inquiry process which, I tell you, is very depressing," he said.

The skipper said neither the focus of the players was out nor their morale was affected, but argued that everyone was not the same.

I have played enough cricket to put it behind me. But we have youngsters who will restrict to display their true potential fearing they would also be labelled as cheats if one shot brings their demise.

"The team needs the support of the public to excel at the highest level. We need their backing and not their hatred. The public needs to take the game as game rather than make it an emotional or ego problem."

Waqar demanded that any player against whom there was slightest of evidence should be sidelined and not allowed to play until he was cleared of all charges. "But there should be law where people levelling allegations are penalized if they fail to substantiate the charges."

Pakistan vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will miss first round action as he is under two-match suspension while express fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is staging a comeback after a string of injuries and tours on which he was just a passenger.

But Waqar was unconcerned. "Inzamam is an experienced batter but we are not a one-man team. We have substitute players and I am confident they will rise to the occasion. "Inzamam's absence will provide them good chance to show their potential and cement their place."

As regards Shoaib, Waqar observed that a fit-Shoaib would be lethal and deadly. "If he finds his rhythm and stays fit, he will destroy any batting line-up. He has been working hard recently and bowling long spells which has impressed everyone. "But the key to his success is fitness and rhythm."

Waqar said he had no selection headaches despite having a string of qualify all-rounders and fast bowlers.

"It has never concerned me who sits out because my priority is to win matches by playing the best players according to requirement. I leave my concerns to the players inside the field."