SHARJAH, 18 October — The Pakistan team manager and coach have been advised by the Pakistan cricket board (PCB) to avoid giving any insensitive or uncalled for statements to the media in the build-up to the final test against Australia.

The statements by manager Brigadier (retd.) Khawaja Nasir and coach Richard Pybus could not have come at a worse time for the team, as it goes into the final Test against Australia shaken and short of confidence.

Having been bowled out for their lowest scores 59 and 53 inside two days in the second test to give Australia a unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three match series, the English born coach of the team told the media that he thought Australia were battling internal tension over the pressure on Steve and Mark Waugh to hold their places in the team at age 37.

The comment drew a sharp reaction from Australian chief selector and former captain Allan Border who described remarks by Pybus as stupid and said: “Pakistan would struggle to beat most Sydney club sides and their coach Richard Pybus must keep his mouth shut.

“Let’s see if they can score 60 next time they bat. Most second grade sides could do better than his national side,” Border said. Pybus on Thursday was on the backfoot emphasizing that his comments were an observation and not meant to be any criticism. He also described the remarks by Border about the Pakistan team as very unfortunate.

“I never meant in any way to indulge in any psychological warfare or criticize the Waugh brothers. It was an observation and nothing else, it is sad that the remarks have been taken out of context and in a negative manner,” Pybus said here.

Pybus said Border’s remarks about the Pakistan team were not fair. “I think even he knows very well that we are struggling with injuries and we have a very young and inexperienced team. It is a growing process for us.”

The Pakistan coach made it clear that he had the highest respect for the Waugh brothers and he never meant to attack them in any way. The Pakistan manager then came up with a gem on Wednesday claiming that India’s decision to not play Pakistan was the result of their fear of losing to them. The remarks by the Brigadier came on the day Pakistan celebrated its 50th birthday of playing its first ever test on Oct. 16th, 1952 against India in New Delhi and were seen as undiplomatic and ill-timed given that on the same day India announced it would be partially withdrawing troops from the border.

The Pakistan team unfortunately has just not done their homework right while speaking to the media resulting in situations which have embarrassed them. The Pakistan management is also under fire for keeping all-rounder Abdul Razzak with the team when he has suffered a wrist fracture and been ruled out for six weeks.

The Pakistan cricket board (PCB) will end up spending in excess of $2400 till the end of the series in Sharjah on keeping Abdul Razzak with the team even though his replacement Shahid Afridi is set to play the final test from Saturday. And just one day after it was confirmed that he would not be able to play any cricket for the next six weeks, his wife also joined him in Sharjah.

South Australia close to an

outright win over Victoria

South Australia moved within eight wickets of outright victory after setting Victoria a mammoth last-innings run-chase in their Sheffield Shield cricket match at Adelaide Oval yesterday, adds Reuters.

The Victorians were 94 for two at stumps on the third day, with Graeme Rummans on 18 and Brad Hodge on 11, still requiring 418 runs in today’s final day for an unlikely win. After trailing by four runs on the first innings, SA declared their second innings at 515 for six at tea to set Victoria a target of 512 for victory.

Mark Higgs, in his first game for SA, scored an unbeaten 134 off just 133 balls.