Board chief says Pakistan team will bounce back (20 December 1998)

20 December 1998

Board chief says Pakistan team will bounce back

AFP

FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Dec 20 (AFP) - Pakistan Cricket chief Khalid Mahmood Sunday denied a rift in the national team saying all was not lost after the successive defeats in series against Australia and Zimbabwe.

"We have lost two series in a row but it is cricket and this is very unfortunate that people do not accept defeat as a defeat, they start spreading things like rift in the team and between officials," Mahmood told AFP.

Pakistan lost to Australia in October. Zimbabwe, 1-0 up in the ongoing series, were heading towards their first series win as a Test playing team in 1992.

Commentators say an apparent row between Mahmood and Pakistan Cricket Board's chief executive, Majid Khan, has affected the PCB working and rift between team members had led to dismal performances in the home series.

"We were very close to square the series against Zimbabwe in Lahore but weather intervened, so this should be taken as bad luck," Mahmood said.

Cricket officials were subjected to harsh criticism for scheduling the matches in unsuitable conditions and venues.

Punjab province had dense fog and play in the second and third Tests against Zimbabwe was disrupted after the tourists won the opening encounter last month.

Moreover the last day of the third and final Test at Faisalabad falls in the Moslem holy month of Ramadan to the annoyance of the fans.

"It is not ill-planning but the heavy fog in Punjab is quite unusual. We did not know it will happen, it has plagued even the daily life," Mahmood said.

It was time to look ahead and plan the tour of India in January after a lapse of about 11 years and the World Cup in England in 1999, he stressed.

"The next thing on our cards is the Indian tour for which we are planning," Mahmood said.

However, the 10-week tour for two Tests, three one-dayers and a Test of the Asian Test championship faces threats of disruption by militants of an anti-Pakistan coalition partner of the Indian government.

The Hindu fundamentalist Shiv Sena has threatened to prevent the Pakistani team playing in India.

But Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said he will not allow the militants to disturb the tour.

Mahmood said: "As far as we are concerned the tour is on.

"It is up to the Indian Cricket Board to make sure things do not go awry."

Mahmood and Majid Khan toured India recently to finalise the tour after the two governments gave the go ahead.

"We will monitor the matters like threats and security fears till the last moment," Mahmood said.