24 April 2004	Saturday	03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, April 23: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc chairman Tauqir Zia said on Friday that Ramiz Raja should not have done commentary during the home series against India.

The series was crucial and had Ramiz given full attention to his job as chief executive, the controversies like ignoring the ex- Test cricketers and occurances of mismanagement might not have happened, Tauqir declared while talking to reporters after a book launching ceremony.

He said that he and Ramiz had shared the work but his successor, another ad hoc appointment, Shaharyar M. Khan had put extra burden on chief executive. Tauqir who quit late last year was disappointed with Pakistan's performance against India and stressed that the team lacked fighting spirit and that was the major reason for defeats.

The former PCB boss once again defended Shoaib Akhtar but admitted that he gave preferential treatment to the pacer because he believed the controversial pacer to be an asset of Pakistan cricket. Tauqir said that if he favoured Shoaib unfairly then the present management of the board should have tackled himwith iron hands.

The ex-PCB supremo said that some ex-Test cricketers were raising hue and cry because they had failed to get any job at the PCB. He claimed that Pakistan achieved outstanding results in recent past winning under-15,17 and 19 events at Asia and World level.

APP adds: He rubbished that Pakistan-India matches were fixed and believed defeats resulted as the team lacked spirit and motivation. "It is rubbish to say that the matches of the one day and Test series were fixed, I do not see any such element involved in the defeat of our team," he added.

Tauqir attributed the defeats to lack of spirit and motivation among the team members and said players failed to rise to the occasion due to these important factors which could have developed a burning desire for victory in them.

Former PCB chief said unity among the team members can create spirit and necessary confidence and disunity always brings destructive results. "PCB must look in this important aspect and efforts should be made to sink differences and petty issues among the players and with the creation of unity spirit will automatically develop in the players," he said.

Tauqir said negative criticism must be stopped of Pakistan team and it should be encouraged to perform well in the coming events. "Losing to India does not mean end of cricket, PCB authorities should sit together and gray areas of the team should be handled professionally", he said.

Former PCB supremo said Inzamamul Haq has proved a successful captain and he must be given the opportunity to continue. He said he was expecting that the Pakistan team will win the one-day series 4-1 but it went other way as India displayed excellent show in the last two matches.

"We have a bunch of young players and if groomed and given proper opportunity they can prove to be assets," he said adding "they must be taught discipline and unity so that they could blend in a winning combination".

He said Pakistan team was not an inferior side when compared with India but players were not guided properly to handle pressure situations. He said coaching has become a science nowadays and specialised coaches are required to train players in their respective departments.