Pakistan team lacks dedication, commitment: Richards says
By Our Sports Correspondent
LAHORE, July 7: Former South African opening batsman Barry Richards on Wednesday said that the Pakistan team should be at the top of the world because the country had great talent but they lacked in dedication and commitment.
"I give Pakistan 10 out of 10 as far as the talent is concerned, but it had six out of 10 for dedication and commitment," Richards told reporters after visiting the national training camp at the Qadhafi Stadium.
Richards, who arrived late on Tuesday night for a week's assignment at the National Cricket Academy, will also give batting tips to Sri Lanka-bound Pakistan squad. He said that the current Australian players had 100per cent dedication and commitment which made them world champions.
Richards considered Pakistan equal to India and said it was only their bad luck that they lost the home series to them earlier this year. He said that the one-day matches were very closed but Pakistan lost the series because the players lacked in competitive spirit and believed that the lack in competitive spirit in Pakistani players was due to non-availability of competitive atmosphere at the local level. Richards conceded that he was inspired by Imran Khan and Ramiz Raja who convinced him to accept the PCB offer.
