March 27, 2002	Wednesday	Muharram 12, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, March 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday said leading players have not been released on the instance of team management.

Chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said he had wanted to release the boys because he thought the players had a moral obligation to their employers who look after them throughout the year.

“But the team management and senior players wanted to persist with them in the camp. I didn’t influence my decision on them because I want to give the management a free hand so that they don’t blame me if, God forbidden, something goes wrong in Sharjah and in the home series,” the General said.

To a question, he said he called the shots in the PCB “but at times one has to be flexible and accommodating.”

PIA are the worst affected team as seven of its players are unavailable to represent them in the final round matches in the National One-day Championship.

The PCB had announced Sunday to release the players. But captain Waqar Younis, coach Mudassar Nazar and manager Yawar Saeed insisted that the camp must continue.

Interestingly, when PIA used its influence, the team management agreed to release only Faisal Iqbal. Faisal, it may be added, was included in the Sharjah-bound team as 16th member and that too two hours after the announcement.

Yawar Saeed dismissed suggestions that players power still existed and was holding the PCB hostage.

He said it was a negative approach, adding that the players were sweating in the camp. He said the players are also attending lectures and seminars besides watching videos of Sri Lanka and New Zealand teams. He said former captain Aamir Sohail will deliver lecture on Thursday.

In the meantime, the PIA has taken a serious note of its players non-interest in representing their department in the crucial matches. Two of PIA’s General Managers were at the stadium throughout the match and held several discussions with the team management.

Sources said the players would be pulled up while there were indications that barring Wasim Akram, the contracts of the other six might not be renewed once it expires in June.