02 September 2004	Thursday	16 Rajab 1425

LAHORE, Sept 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided not to hire the services of English curator Andy Atkinson for the Sept 30-Oct 16 triangular tournament, involving Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

The decision was taken due to the complaints about the wicket preparations during the series against India played in March-April this year. Atkinson, however, had gained full points for making the pitches for the home series against South Africa and New Zealand after the local curators had failed to prepare sporting pitches for the series against Bangladesh.

Furthermore the PCB considers the local curators had learnt a lot from Atkinson's experience, therefore, there is no need to hire the foreigner again. Meanwhile, the PCB also decided to pick the team from the students of the National Cricket Academy, currently attending the Graduation Class, to play the two-day practice match against Zimbabwe to be held at Sheikhupura Stadium on Sept 20 and 21.

Zimbabwe will also play a four-day practice match from Sept 23 to 26 and it has been decided to select those students of the NCA in home side for that match, who would have performed well in the two-dayer.