July 7, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1423

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KARACHI, July 6: Australian Dennis Waight has agreed to join the Pakistan cricket team on an eight-month contract, officials confirmed Saturday.

Waight, who spent almost two decades as West Indies cricket team physiotherapist, will arrive in Lahore on July 17 where the training camp for the Tangiers triangular series starts July 12.

“Waight has accepted the contract to serve the Pakistan team until the 2003 World Cup that concludes in March,” officials said.

Waight has been hired to improve the endurance, stamina and fitness of the players, particularly the aging ones. The three factors, no doubt, will be the key to Pakistan’s success in the month-long extravaganza as the green-shirted players are the most talented in the present lot.

The Pakistan team, prior to the World Cup, will play in Tangiers, Kenya (triangular series) Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (home series against Australia), Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Trevor Chappell has arrived in Pakistan and is looking after the regional academy in Muridke. He has been hired to improve the fielding skills of the youngsters.

“Chappell will also spend a week with the Pakistan team prior to our departure for Tangiers,” manager Yawar Saeed said.

Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar is due to arrive in Lahore on July 9 while Wasim Akram returns from Manchester on July 10.

“If Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq are named in the team, they will join the squad in London where we have a two-hour stopover before proceeding to the African city,” the manager added.