PCB chief orders inquiry into Indian series debacle
KARACHI, April 18: Pakistan cricket chief Shaharyar Khan launched a scathing attack on the national team here on Sunday following the historic series defeat to India
, lashing players guilty of "carefree unprofessionalism".
Announcing plans for an inquiry into the series defeat - the first ever suffered by a Pakistani team to India on home soil - Shaharyar said he was shocked at the way Pakistan had collapsed in the decider.
India wrapped up a remarkable victory in Rawalpindi on Friday, clinching a 2-1 series triumph by an innings and 131 runs. But the manner of Pakistan's capitulation has angererd Shaharyar, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, who accused the home team of caving in without a fight.
"Obvious flaws in Pakistans performance will be addressed in a calm and professional manner and I have taken serious notice of this lack of commitment to national honour," Shaharyar said in a statement.
The role of pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar is certain to come under scrutiny. Shoaib, who only claimed seven wickets in the series, did not bowl for a major part of India's innings after suffering a back injury.
The fact however that Shoaib subsequently went on to bat without any obvious signs of discomfort has fuelled rumours of a bust-up between the bowler and his skipper Inzamamul Haq.
Inzamam accused Shoaib of letting the team down in the wake of the third Test defeat. Shaharyar said a medical commission would be set up to assess the true extent of Shoaib's injury - and he made it clear that any indication Shoaib had been malingering would be severely punished.
"I will be wanting to interview each potentially offending player to inquire the reasons for not upholding team morale and national honour. "I want to make it crystal clear that any player who is found incapable or unwilling to give 150 per cent for team morale and national honour will have no place in the Pakistan team," he said.
"My main concern for the present is the manner in which the Rawalpindi Test was lost without the semblance of a fight. "While some players, like the courageous Asim Kamal clearly demonstrated fighting spirit there were others who patently failed the test by their carefree, unprofessional approach in Pakistan's second innings," said Shaharyar.
"I have decided to set up a medical inquiry committee to report on Shoaib's injury as also the large number of injured players who have depleted and undermined Pakistanis cricketing strength."
The inquiry committee headed by a senior orthopaedic consultant will be formed by the PCB chief executive, Ramiz Raja, and it will submit its report in a week. "On the completion of the medical committee's report and on receipt of the responses from certain players...(we will) decide on disciplinary action, if any, that is to be taken," Shaharyar said. -Agencies
Our Sports Correspondent adds from Lahore: The PCB chairman said that his main concern was the manner of Pakistan's defeat in Rawalpindi without showing fighting spirit. He said that in his recent address to the players, President Pervez Musharraf, who is also the PCB patron-in-chief, had stressed for the need of fight and the will to win.
Shaharyar, however, added that flaws in Pakistan's performance would be addressed in a calm and professional manner, but there was no cause for despondency as Pakistan Under-15, 17 and 19 teams had won laurels at World and Asian levels, recently. He noted Pakistan had been the winner in the series for showing itself as a hospitable, safe and progressive country.
