Team manager to probe Shoaib-Woolmer row

Published
0

LAHORE, Jan 20: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to comment on a reported exchange of hot words between paceman Shoaib Akhtar and coach Bob Woolmer prior to the start of the second day’s play of the second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

A PCB spokesman, however, confirmed that team manager Talat Ali will be holding a hearing after the day's play to find out the truth and the board will only issue a statement after that.

The spokesman added that Talat, a former Test opener, had summoned both Shoaib and Woolmer for the hearing. Leading TV channels of the country also reported the incident.

The spokesman also said that Shoaib suffered from a niggling hamstring problem earlier in the day and, therefore did not take the field in the South Africa’s second innings.

"Shoaib is going through some medical tests at the moment and the nature of the injury will only be determined after getting the medical reports,” the spokesman said. “It is premature to say how many days will the pacer require to recover because the reports have not come yet."

Shoaib, on Friday, made a triumphant return to Test cricket by capturing 4-36 in South Africa’s first innings and bowled the hosts out for a paltry 124. His performance was hailed by all quarters but he is, apparently, facing disciplinary action now.

Opinion

Editorial

Deadly classrooms
Updated 16 Oct, 2026

Deadly classrooms

Parents should not have to become structural engineers to judge whether their children are safe at school.
Diplomatic options
Updated 16 Oct, 2026

Diplomatic options

Regional states know that the alternative to talks — a fully fledged war on both fronts — will bring immeasurable destruction to the Gulf, the Red Sea and the surrounding areas.
Hunger in Pakistan
16 Oct, 2026

Hunger in Pakistan

PAKISTAN’S position as the country most affected by hunger in South Asia is not surprising. An economy battered by...
Lagging behind
Updated 15 Oct, 2026

Lagging behind

The immediate task is to contain inflation and protect vulnerable households without reviving unsustainable subsidies or excessive demand.
India voter purge
Updated 15 Oct, 2026

India voter purge

Earlier, the BJP and its Hindutva cohorts could get away with trampling the rights of Indian Muslims, but now their shenanigans are not working.
Multan derailment
15 Oct, 2026

Multan derailment

IN numerous states, including many of Pakistan’s neighbours, rail transport is a safe and affordable mode of...