PCB finds itself in tough spot

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 5. The officials of Pakistan Cricket Board were left scratching their heads on Monday forced as they were to pull out three of their star players from the three-Test series against New Zealand. Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Azhar Mahmood will now return home due to injury.

But that was not all. Off-spinner Arshad Khan, who was flown to New Zealand in circumstances best known to the PCB think-tank, was also ordered to return home with the three injured players.

All the four players would celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their families in Pakistan as their team prepares to fight against a confident Black Caps.

A fresh brigade of experienced Ijaz Ahmed (who scored 1 and 0 in his last first class innings for his employers Habib Bank), middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal (nephew of coach Javed Miandad), uncapped left-handed opener Taufiq Umer and paceman Fazl-e-Akbar would join the team before the first Test begins at Auckland this Thursday.

Although PCB supremo Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia denied there was any rift among the Pakistan team members in New Zealand, he agreed that it was not a good omen for Moin Khan's depleted side, which has already lost the one-day series 2-3.

``We are in a fix because Wasim and Saeed both are quality players and it would be difficult to fill the gap,'' he said. ``I think all the players are mature enough and are not faking their injuries. They know how important this tour is for them and for Pakistan cricket.''

Arshad was flown to New Zealand unneccessarily, but Zia insisted that since Saqlain Mushtaq was struggling with his form, the board did not want to take any chances. ``Saqlain struggled in the one-day series. But since he took four wickets against New Zealand A and has regained some form we decided to call back Arshad,'' Zia said.

Wasim developed a side strain in the decisive one-day international at Dunedin last week while Azhar had foot injury. Saeed, who failed with the bat in the five limited overs game, limped off the field on the second day of the three-day match against New Zealand.

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