LAHORE, May 11: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday ordered the new-look team to get fit and develop a “work ethic” as they bid to recover from their World Cup disaster.

Chairman Nasim Ashraf said the players must behave appropriately and would face contract problems if they did not make fitness gains every month. “Each of you must behave like professionals and ambassadors of the country,” he told the team during a meeting.

“The PCB will closely monitor the fitness of all the players and expect an improvement on every player on a month-to-month basis,” he added.

“The fitness of players will be a major area in monitoring players' central contracts,” said Dr. Ashraf of the yearly contracts, which will now be performance based.

The 1992 champions looked sloppy and out of touch as they were ousted in the first round of the March-April World Cup following defeats to the West Indies and minnows Ireland.

Their coach Bob Woolmer was also found dead at the team hotel in Jamaica the day after the Ireland defeat. Jamaican police say he was murdered although the investigation has made little headway.

“We all have had learned lessons from the World Cup and now it's time to put them behind us and make a new start,” Dr. Ashraf said.

“The fame, wealth and standing of players are because they play for their country,” he added. “The PCB and its management are developing a new culture and work ethics and players are part of this.”

The humiliating exit forced burly skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to quit one-day cricket and, after vice-captain Younis Khan declined to take the post, the PCB was left to appoint young Shoaib Malik as new captain.

Ashraf, whose resignation following the Cup debacle was rejected by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf - also the patron of the PCB - added that he expected more from the team's senior members.

“The senior players need to play their role in building up the youngsters and must wholly support the new captain Malik,” Dr. Ashraf.

Malik was assured of support by seniors like batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounders Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq during the meeting.

The PCB chief said Pakistan's fielding, another weak area, must be improved.

“There will be great emphasis on fielding and we must admit that it is not satisfactory. It is up to each player to personally improve fielding which also depends on physical fitness,” Ashraf said.

Pakistan are due to take part in a three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi in which matches are scheduled for May 18, 20 and 22.

Younis and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are not available for the series, while fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was still recovering from a knee injury. — AFP