December 5, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 29,1423

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KARACHI, Dec 4: Pakistan can play Test series against India at a neutral venue if it will help generate revenues, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt.Gen Tauqir Zia said Tuesday.

He said if the government permitted them they will go for the series. “It’s silly not go for such a series with high revenues”.

He said PCB had already suffered a great deal financially due to cancellation of tours to Pakistan.

Tauqir said Indian government has given permission to play against Pakistan in multi-nations event but not on a one to one basis.

He said PCB is ready to forgo the rights of staging next year’s Asia Cup in Pakistan if government allow us to do so to make way for India to participate in the event in any other country.

However, he said it will not benefit PCB monetarily because this will be the Asian Cricket Council (ABC) event.

Tauqir said he was concerned about the controversy revolving speedster Shoaib Akhtar about ball tampering and for his behavior. “He should not do these kinds of things,” he said.

“Shoaib is a match winners and should avoid these kinds of incidents because it bother us”, he added.

Tauqir said besides ball tampering he was also concerned about the match fixing and drug issue in the sport which is high profile issue.

PCB boss said fitness and form of the players was of paramount importance for them and that is why rotation policy was deployed for the players.

He said fast bowlers like Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram need rest.

Commenting on openning pair of Salim Elahi and Taufeeq Umer he said if they fail in South Africa, the team management can fall back on Shahid Afridi and Faisal Iqbal as replacements.

He said he can not take risk on Saeed Anwar to play in South Africa because in recent past he did not play much cricket.

The PCB boss said Hanif Muhammad will continue as Pakistan batting coach and soon be flying to South Africa to join the team for two Test match series.

“Hanif has been a great help to the team on Zimbabwe tour” Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia told reporters at National Stadium Tuesday night.

“We are sending Hanif early to South Africa to spend more time with the team before the Test matches” he said.

He said PCB was considering to utilize the services of three batting greats Hanif Muhammad, Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas.

He said PCB wants to utilize the services of these greats at under-15, under-19 and other levels to improve their technique.

PCB chief said it was nice to see the team winning Test series against Zimbabwe 2-0 and one-day series 5-0. “Though I was expecting that Pakistan will win against Zimbabwe. But was not expecting such a big margin of victories in the series,” he added.

He said Pakistani team combined so well against Zimbabwe. “Its definitely a morale boosting after debacle against Australia” he maintained.

However General agreed that team like Zimbabwe was not in same league as Australia and South Africa but victories gave the boys confidence.

“They have come up well and I hope they keep their direction right” Tauqir stressed. He said after failure against Australia almost all the batsmen scored runs against Zimbabwe.

He said coming series against South Africa will be good test of the team.

PCB chairman said South Africa is strong team and if Pakistan fought well against the host they will enter the World Cup with more positive mind.

Hanif, who was also present on the occasion commenting on Pakistan’s disastrous 3-0 defeat against Australia said after coming close to win the first Test match in Colombo, youngsters got big headed after scoring some runs.

He said they got over confident whereas Australians worked even harder to outplay Pakistan in remaining two Test matches in Sharjah.

Hanif denied impression among general public that there was a disharmony in Pakistan team. “Boys looked united and combined and played as a team in Zimbabwe” he said.—APP