20 January 2005	Thursday	09 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Mohammad Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Sports said on Wednesday that the pattern of working of the Pakistan cricket team should be to concentrate on better planning and strategy.

Following Pakistan team's six-wicket victory over West Indies on Thursday in the tri-series Down Under, Durrani said that the boys had shown they had the fighting spirit and determination to win more matches.

"Players are our national asset and continuous criticism of them affects their morale, so they should always be given the margin." Some of the Pakistani players among them captain Inzamamul Haq have been bitterly criticised for their poor showing in the recent Test series against Australia which they lost 0-3.

Thursday's win in the one-day competition was Pakistan's first after being beaten by Australia in the opening match. "Everyone has a right to criticise but at times that criticism becomes too personal which hurts the players; how can we then expect them to perform."

"Knee-jerk reaction does not prove helpful; encouragement is what the players need," he said while hoping that Pakistan will put up a good fight in their next match.