COLOMBO, 2 October — The International Cricket Council have refused to grant recognition to the players body FICA (federation of international cricketers’ associations). This was decided at the executive board meeting of the ICC held over the last two days in Colombo. “At least five cricket boards were against granting recognition to FICA,” said Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC. They have also constituted a five-member panel to deal with the sponsorship row before the 2003 World Cup. Its members are Speed, ICC President Malcolm Gray, next ICC President Ehsan Mani and the two presidents of the Australian and India cricket boards. They have to come up with an acceptable formula by the end of the month. The scheduled matches in Zimbabwe are likely to go ahead as planned. However, an ICC panel will visit Zimbabwe soon to assess the situation.

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Saravanamuttu Stadium

AFTER the hustle and bustle of the ICC Champions Trophy played over the last 19 days at the Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium, the scene now shifts to the oldest Test venue in Colombo – the Saravanamuttu Stadium. It has a capacity of about 15,000. Pavilion tickets with reserved seating are the most expensive, priced at 300 rupees (about 12 Saudi riayls). The covered stand tickets with reserved seating cost 100 rupees. The hills opposite the pavilion are free. “It is difficult to get a crowd for Tests. In this case the two teams are from other countries. It is a unique honor for Sri Lanka, the first Test-playing country to host a neutral Test,” said M. Mahendra, manager of the host Tamil Union Athletic and Cricket Club. The pavilion has a life-size black and white picture of the legendary Sir Don Bradman, the Australian captain and his Sri Lankan counterpart M. Sada Sivam going out for the toss. Earlier known as the Colombo Oval, this is the only ground in Asia where the late Bradman played a nonofficial Test in 1948. It is not clear whether they played on their way to play the old enemy England in an Ashes series or on their way back.

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‘Rawalpindi Express’ in full speed

THE Pakistanis had a strenuous training session at the stadium in the morning yesterday. First they were put through their paces by physical trainer Denis Waite under the watchful eye of coach Richard Pybus. Then they huddled under the shade of the sight screen and Pybus gave them a long pep talk. Instead of batting and bowling in the nets as most teams usually do, the Pakistanis played a mock match, a bit like the real thing. “Rawalpindi Express” Shoaib Akhtar generated tremendous pace and bounce from the wicket and bowled at his full speed from a regular run-up. Also impressive were skipper Waqar Younis, off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and spinner Danish Kaneria. When the going got too hot, Shoaib got rid of his T-shirt and bowled bare-chested for some time. He agreed to an interview for Arab News but wanted me to take the manager’s permission first.

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Waite a veteran trainer

PERHAPS the best thing the Pakistan Cricket Board have done to get their team in proper shape is by hiring well known Australian physical trainer Denis Waite. Waite has been with the team for 10 weeks now and it is really a very short time to produce any tangible results. Waite was connected with the West Indies team and looked after their physical fitness for 22 long years. “It is going to take some time. At the moment they have a very easy-going approach toward physical fitness. They have change their way of thinking and adopt a more professional approach,” said Waite. He added that the most important thing for the players was their diet. “They have to have a balanced diet. Twenty percent carbohydrates, 20 percent protein and so on,” he added. When asked the diet was to be monitored, Waite replied: “That is the biggest problem but we will find a way.” Waite, a Queenslander, has a Jamaican wife and the two have five children. He proudly showed Pak manager Brig. Nasir photos of his family — some kids black, taking after their mother and some white like him. Pointing at one of them, Waite said: “This one was born in Antigua, so she has an Australian passport, a Jamaican passport and an Antinguan passport.” “This is the family of the future. The world is slowly turning into a global village,” Brig. Nasir remarked.

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Brig. Nasir is back as manager

AFTER the acrimonious sacking of coach Mudassar Nazar and manager Yawar Saeed, the PCB have fallen back on tried and tested hands. They have reappointed South Africa’s Richard Pybus as coach and Brig. K.H. Nasir as the manager. Nasir was very successful as manager when Moeen Khan was the captain. I congratulated him on his return and said Pakistan had a new-look team. He said: “The new look has been enforced on us. This is a good opportunity for these players to establish themselves. Most of them have played Test cricket before.” Zakir Khan, the former fast bowler is PCB’s general manager of cricket operations. He said: “You can’t really call them young as they have been around for some time. But it is up to them now to make a regular place for themselves in the side.”