Yousuf blames lack of teamwork

Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf shrugged aside reports that over-indulgence in religious activities was to blame for Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup. He made his statements while talking to reporters after appearing before the Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC).

According to Yousuf, it was lack of teamwork that was responsible for the debacle instead of religious preaching or focus on offering prayers as cited by Pakistan's media manager P J Mir earlier.

He also pointed his finger at the entire team without picking individual performances in the tournament.

While asked what went wrong in the World Cup, Shoaib Akhtar, who missed the tournament due to a knee injury amidst speculation that he was still carrying traces of nandrolone, emphasised that it was best Pakistan's dismal performance was forgotten and a fresh start taken.

"I believe with better planning and strategy, Pakistan can beat Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and other teams in the next five months," he told reporters.

Mohammad Asif, the second of the two unfit bowlers unable to represent Pakistan in the tournament, blamed a seaming track for the loss against Ireland. He expressed his surprise at the kind of pitch organisers had prepared for that match and added that nothing of that sort was seen anywhere else in the World Cup.

Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez and Rao Ifitkhar will be the next set of players to record their statements before the PEC with findings from the statements to be handed over to the Pakistan Cricket Board this month.