LAHORE, 4 April 2004 — The Pakistan Cricket Board has smoothed over two matters that have raised hackles in Pakistan.
First was the clamor over the pitch in Multan, where India won by an innings, and the second was former captain Rashid Latif’s off-the-cuff comments about the fourth ODI between India and Pakistan having been fixed.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan condemned the comments as unworthy of a “patriot” and said that a decision on a course of action against Latif has been taken. The announcement will be made today.
“It was irresponsible of Latif to make such comments without any evidence, while basing his comments on the body language of the players,” he said.
“Also the timing of his comments was improper, as no patriot would make such comments.”
He also put to rest grumbling on the state of the Multan pitch.
“The pitch was for batting on the first three days and offered some turn on the last two days,” he said.
“It just needed application by the bowlers.
The Indians — Zaheer, Irfan, Balaji and Kumble — all stuck to their task with a dedicated line and length and made our batsmen play at every ball, while the Pakistan attack failed to make the best use of the conditions,” he said.
“Lahore will produce a lively and sporting wicket and it is up to the team to perform,” he added.
The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium yesterday had some grass, and unless a decision to shave it close to the ground is taken on the day of the match, the possibility of the Pakistan fast bowlers coming good in the second Test is high.
“Even the Multan pitch prepared by international curator Andy Atkinson was good - especially after the pitch had to be switched just days before the Test,” Shaharyar said.
“Andy found some termites had eaten into the pitch that was being prepared for the match, and he switched to the adjacent pitch and did a wonderful job in such a short time,”
When repeatedly asked whether the wicket here will be greentop, he said, “The final decision will be the captain’s. Inzamam will have the final say in the makeup of the wicket, and he will make his decision based on the advice of the coach and team manager.”
But Shaharyar added the state of the pitch is just one facet of the game.
The better team won in Multan.
“We have to get our act together and we had a pep talk session with the team on Friday. Yes, understandably the boys are disappointed, but we have told them to forget Multan and carry on and play positive cricket,” he said.
Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq and his team were hard at work at nets on Friday soon after arrival from Multan.
When asked what his strategy will be, Inzamam said, “It’s back to basics. We are working on all areas of our game, with an accent on fielding and bowling.”
This was echoed by PCB Chief Executive Rameez Raja, who said primarily the bowling let the team down, though their fielding too was poor. “We are working on these areas, and hopefully the team will stage a comeback here,” he said.
Rameez also said a bowling coach would be helpful to players only in the formative years.
“But at this level of cricket the bowlers are mature and talented enough to perform.
The coach and the manager are there to help the bowlers,” he added.
There was a minor development in the Indian camp with team manager Ratnakar Shetty announcing that Zaheer Khan will be leaving for India on April 5.
He also said that Ashish Nehra and Muhammad Kaif had already joined the team.
The Indians, after a day trip to the Wagah border on Friday, took to the field yesterday with a more laidback approach.
Both are being put through their paces in their own style, with the hope that nothing will queer their pitch.
In two days we’ll know the answer.
