JOHANNESBURG, 9 March 2003 — Pakistan’s chief selector Wasim Bari yesterday threatened to overhaul the national team after they were knocked out in the first round of the World Cup. “A rebuilding process is imminent and some new players are bound to be introduced after what happened in South Africa,” Bari told AFP by telephone from Karachi. “New players will unfortunately take more time to mature so it could be a mix of new and a few senior players.” With coach Richard Pybus already deciding to quit, captain Waqar Younis also appears to be on his way out with sources suggesting that pace legend Wasim Akram was once again eyeing the job despite having had three spells in charge of the team. Since 1998, Pakistan has appointed 10 different coaches for the national team, six captains and as many managers. That should not come as a surprise since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) itself was headed by four different people between 1998 and 1999 when Tauqir Zia took over. Former captain Imran Khan, who led Pakistan’s World Cup triumph in 1992, warned the worst was not over yet.

Donald Calls Time

on South Africa

BLOEMFONTEIN — South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald announced his retirement from international cricket at his home ground of Goodyear Park yesterday. “It’s time to move on. It’s been a wonderful time, playing against the best players in the world,” said the 36-year-old. “I’ve played in four World Cups. Things did not work out for us at this tournament but my philosophy has always been if things are not meant to be they are not meant to be.” Donald will carry on playing first-class cricket for his native province of Free State for the next two seasons and could captain the side. He is also due to work as a technical assistant with South Africa’s Under-19s and could be used as a bowling coach with the full national team. Gerald Majola, chief executive of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said he hoped Donald could become “South Africa’s Dennis Lillee”, a reference to the legendary Australian paceman who is now a bowling coach. Looking back on his international career, Donald said he had no regrets.

Left Takes Over

from Right for India

JOHANNESBURG — Indian coach John Wright must be delighted, and relieved, the team’s left hand knows what its right hand is doing. The Indians left their supporters sweating in Cape Town on Friday night when, chasing Kenya’s modest 225-6, they lost Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Kaif quickly to make it 24-3. With the top three right-handers gone, including the master himself, India were steered out of the woods by two southpaws, captain Saurav Ganguly and the ever-improving Yuvraj Singh. Of course Rahul Dravid, a right-hander, did his bit, making 32 in a fourth wicket stand of 84 with Ganguly, but victory was still miles away when the vice-captain gave leg-spinner Collins Obuya a tame return catch. It was left to Ganguly and Yuvraj to seal the six-wicket win with an unbroken 118-run stand for the fifth wicket. Ganguly’s 107 not out lifted him to a 21st century, second in the all-time list behind teammate Tendulkar’s tally of 34. He also became the only batsman in this World Cup to score two centuries, having made 112 against Namibia. Yuvraj smashed his second successive half-century, his unbeaten 58 against Kenya as valuable as the 50 not out against Pakistan last Saturday.

Symcox Quits as

South Africa Selector

JOHANNESBURG — Former South Africa Test player Pat Symcox yesterday resigned as a national team selector, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) announced. In a letter to the UCBSA, Symcox said his decision was made due to a conflict of interests between his position as a selector and his position as a TV commentator and journalist. “Symmo has played a huge role on the selection panel and he still has a lot to contribute and give to South African cricket. I will miss him,” said Omar Henry.

It’s all yours, Australia as

Rivals Look for Answers

JOHANNESBURG — After four weeks and 44 matches, and following their brilliant and brutal dissection of Sri Lanka, Australia are comfortably on course for a second successive World Cup title. Two more pretenders, Zimbabwe and New Zealand, press their claims in the Super Sixes on Saturday but, in reality, the game is up and Ricky Ponting’s potential rivals are already scrambling for answers to their dilemma. Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who felt the full force of Australian ambition when he was forced out of his team’s match at Centurion on Friday after being hit by a Brett Lee special, was asked if Australia could be beaten in this tournament. “It all depends on the first two hours of a match,” said Jayasuriya. “You never know. If a team bats or bowls well at the start, they could put the Aussies under pressure. But it was not our day today.” Ponting, who hit a majestic century in his side’s 96-run win against the 1996 champions, was almost clinical in his appraisal. “We played pretty well and executed our plans well. We had to be aggressive at the start of both innings to unsettle them and did just that,” said Ponting.