RAWALPINDI, 9 October 2003 — Pakistan coach Javed Miandad has called on his players to be more disciplined in maintaining their over rates, warning them failure to do so could cost them the one-day series against South Africa.
“We now have to take this issue very seriously,” Miandad told Reuters yesterday. “It cost us the match on Tuesday. If we don’t find a solution and don’t get more disciplined the over rates will start playing on our minds more than the match itself.”
The Pakistan coach said there was not enough attention paid to the over rate at the domestic level in Pakistan.
“Our players graduate to international cricket without realizing its importance,” he said. “In other countries maintaining the required over rate is part of their cricket culture from the grass root level and they don’t face problems.”
Pakistan to Honor Wasim Akram With a Benefit Match on Sunday
Pakistan will honor one of its great cricket all-rounders, Wasim Akram, by dedicating to him the last match of the ongoing Pakistan-South Africa one-day series in Rawalpindi on Sunday, sponsors said.
Sponsors Pepsi Cola International yesterday unveiled plans to give a grand farewell to Wasim, who retired in May, for his services to the country during a 19-year career during in which he also led Pakistan.
