November 01 Friday 2002
Tauqir asks Pak team to give their best in Zim, SA

LAHORE: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia had a pep talk with the Africa-bound cricketers who are to leave in the wee hours of Friday on a nine-week tour. 

The Pakistan team will play two Tests and five One-day Internationals each in Zimbabwe and in South Africa before returning home on January 7. 

The meeting was also attended by the three specialist one-day cricketers Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood and Misbah-ul-Haq who are expected to fly out either on November 16 or 18. 

The chairman reminded the cricketers of their responsibilities and the expectations 140 million people had in their abilities and potential. "You are best of the best but for certain reasons, the performance graph has gone down in the last three months. 

I want you boys to put the past behind you and take the new challenges with fresh determination, commitment and courage. I have full confidence in you and I am also aware of the fact that it is just a matter of one good victory and you will be back on victory road. I am hoping that you will make us proud and return from this grueling tour triumphant," Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told the cricketers. 

The cricketers admitted that they have let the nation down with some sloppy and poor performances but promised to give their best on this tour. "It's our commitment and promise to the nation that the team would work together for glory. We know that this is a crucial period with World Cup just round the corner. We are aware that if we have to lift ourselves, this is the time. We owe a lot to the nation and hopefully we will succeed in restoring the confidence of our fan club," the team said in a joint statement. 

Given below are the itineraries for Zimbabwe and South Africa tours- 

Zimbabwe: 
Nov 4-6 Three-dayer at Harare 
Nov 9-13 First Test at Harare 
Nov 16-20 Second Test at Bulawayo 
Nov 23 First One-day International at Bulawayo 
Nov 24 Second One-day International at Bulawayo 
Nov 27- Third One-day International at Harare 
Nov 30- Fourth One-day International at Harare 
Dec 1- Fifth One-day International at Harare 

South Africa: 
Dec 2 Arrival in Johannesburg 
Dec 3- One-day tour match vs NFO XI 
Dec 5- One-day tour match vs South Africa A (d/n) 
Dec 8- First One-day International at Durban
Dec 11- Second One-day International at Port Elizabeth (d/n) 
Dec 13- Third One-day International at East London (d/n) 
Dec 14 One-day tour match vs Border Invitation XI at Alice 
Dec 16 Fourth One-day International at Paarl
Dec 18 Fifth One-day International at Cape Town (d/n) 
Dec 21-23, Three-dayer vs South Africa A at Pietemartizburg 
Dec 26-30, First Test at Durban 
Jan 2-6 Second Test at Cape Town 
Jan 7 departure to Pakistan