LAHORE, 3 October 2003 — Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad has appealed to the Pakistan fans to be on their best behavior. “We must let the South Africans know that we truly love our cricket and they have nothing to worry about,” he said.
Miandad appealed to fans to keep the peace during the series as the country have already suffered a cricket drought over security fears.
“I appeal to the crowd to maintain discipline because Pakistan’s image is at stake,” Miandad told reporters a day before the teams were to take to the pitch for their first One-Day International match.
“If they protest anything and there is trouble, it would disturb the match and could harm the image of the country.”
South Africa are the first Western side to travel to Pakistan to play cricket for 16 months, after New Zealand abandoned their tour when a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi in May last year.
“We have suffered a lot because teams were not traveling to Pakistan and fans were deprived. So I would appeal to the fans to enjoy the cricket,” said the former captain, one of Pakistan’s best-loved cricketers.
The series was in doubt after a bomb blast in an empty office building in Karachi on Sept. 19. The Proteas briefly canceled the tour but changed their minds after a revised itinerary dropped the violence-prone cities of Karachi and Peshawar as venues.
Miandad vowed his young side would not disappoint the fans. “We are up there and will do our best to live up to the expectations by winning the match,” he said.
Pakistan and South Africa play five one-dayers before Test matches in Lahore and Faisalabad.
Pakistan Banking
on Pace of Akhtar
Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq is banking on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to play a decisive role in the one-day series against South Africa. “I think Shoaib will be the difference between the two sides. He has been playing regularly in England and is in match-form. We know he can be a real match-winner on his day,” Inzamam said yesterday before today’s first game.
“Bowling is our strength and we have match-winning pacers and spinners. But we know we will have to play really well to beat South Africa,” he added.
The 28-year old Akhtar has taken 142 wickets in 87 one-dayers and in his last appearance for Pakistan in the second Test against Bangladesh he returned match figures of 10 for 90.
South African skipper Graeme Smith conceded that Pakistan’s new-ball attack of Akhtar and Mohammad Sami was a potent one. “Both are quality bowlers with genuine pace but it will also get our adrenalin flowing,” he said. Officials have made arrangements to combat heavy dew. “We have all the back-up like super-sooper machines and other things to take care of the dew in case it gets heavy and makes conditions difficult,” said cricket board spokesman Samiul Hasan.
