Wasim Akram named captain for Indian tour (4 January 1999)

4 January 1999

Wasim Akram named captain for Indian tour

By Ilyas Beg

LAHORE, Jan 3:Test all-rounder Wasim Akram has been brought back as captain and wicketkeeper Moin Khan appointed vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket team which will tour India from January 23.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executive council, which met under the chairmanship of Khalid Mahmood at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, appointed Mian Muhammad Munir (Lahore Divisions Cricket Association president) as manager of the team while Javed Miandad has been retained as coach.

However, decision to appoint a physiotherapist of the team in place of Dr Dan Kiesel, who had resigned, was deferred for a few days.

It has been reliably learnt that Saleem Moghal came from England and he was interviewed by the PCB. He may be appointed physiotherapist of the team.

The PCB media adviser Lt.-Col. (retd.) Rafi Nasim, along with chief executive Majid Khan and secretary Waqar Ahmad, briefed mediamen about decisions of the executive council.

Number of the national camp trainees has been reduced from 42 to 23. Chief selector Wasim Bari briefed the executive council about strategy of the team for the tour. He also promised that the 15-member Pakistan team out of the probables will be finalised in a week's time.

Wasim Akram (captain), Moin Khan (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousaf Youhanna, Salim Malik, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shahid Nazir, Azhar Mahmood, Wajahatullah, Rashid Latif, Arshad Khan, Muhammad Akram, Shahid Afridi, Nadeem Khan, Asif Mujtaba, Muhammad Naveed, Mohammad Husain.

Pakistan has so far played 44 Tests against India, won seven, lost four and drawn 33.

The two teams have played 71 one-day internationals, Pakistan won 32, lost 25 and drawn four.

While replying to a question, Rafi Nasim said that the PCB legal adviser Ali Sibtain Fazli briefed the executive council about legal aspects of selection. He was of the opinion that the PCB should go ahead with its normal process of picking the team.

"Every one is considered innocent until and unless proved guilty. So, when the inquiry commission is busy in probing the betting and match-fixing allegations against certain players, there was no bar on the PCB in going through the process of selecting the team", opined Ali Sibtain Fazli.

Rafi Nasim said that the PCB executive council will deliberate about fresh selection of the team if the inquiry commission found any player guilty.

The inquiry commission will give a chance to the accused players of a cross-examination on Jan 16. It will finalise its report soon afterwards and submit that to the president, who is patron of the PCB.

While replying to a question, chief executive Majid Khan said that the PCB was examining the proposed itinerary of the tour and was sending it back to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) so that they also mention the venues of the side matches to be played by the Pakistan team.

Former Test paceman Sarfaraz Nawaz briefed the executive council about the progress made by fast bowlers during the camp he was running in Islamabad. He expressed satisfaction over the improvement made by the bowlers.

Sarfraz also suggested to hold under-16 and under-19camps for the fast bowlers. Camps for spinners were also to be organised.

It was also proposed that the associations should also hold similar camps under the guidance of former Test stars. Sarfaraz said that some bowlers did not know how to hold the ball properly. Run-ups of some bowlers and style of delivery of others were also corrected.

Weather has been bad in Lahore for the last couple of days. If it did not improve during the next few days then the national camp may be shifted to Karachi. In that case, Sarfaraz will also go to Karachi to assist in the training of the national team.

While replying to a question, Waqar Ahmad said that Wasim Akram was congratulated for being appointed as the captain and he had accepted the offer gleefully!

Rafi Nasim said that manager of the Pakistan "A" team which toured New Zealand had reported that the boys lacked fitness. Four out of six batsmen failed. Coach Mohsin Hasan Khan had also reported that the boys could not give their best due to cold weather. They needed to improve their physical fitness.

While replying to a question, Waqar Ahmad said that a contract with BBCL had concluded and now fresh contract will be signed after the World Cup in May, when any foreign team visits Pakistan.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)