WELLINGTON, 31 January 2003 — Pakistan cricket coach Javed Miandad didn’t want to imagine his fate had the Wellington weather sealed one of the biggest blunders in Test cricket history yesterday.
Miandad’s last visit here three years ago ended with his sacking after drawing the Test series 1-1. If rain had denied Pakistan a walkover win in the second Test in this series, he may have been safer not to return home.
The Pakistan camp were spluttering into their morning cups of tea when they threw open the curtains only to see the rain tumbling down on day five of the match.
It raised the chance of New Zealand snatching a draw after the tourists’ captain Inzamam ul-Haq did not ask for the extra 30 minutes he was entitled to, with Pakistan just 28 runs short of victory at the end of the fourth day. “Obviously it’s not my decision but we were a bit confused. It was first time it was happening for Inzamam,” Miandad said after the rain cleared long enough for his side to cruise home by seven wickets and win their fourth series in New Zealand.
“It could have been different on the fifth day, if it rained more we definitely would have cried.”
“They would have been thinking the same way as you all. But people do make mistakes and our intention wasn’t anything else,” the relieved Miandad said.
“It happened and you learn from your mistakes. In the end I’m very pleased and happy and we got through on the last day.”
Test rules allow either captain to claim an extra half hour if the umpires decide a result is imminent.
