October 03 Thursday 2002
Captains trade verbal blows ahead of Tests 

COLOMBO: Rival captains Steve Waugh of Australia and Waqar Younis of Pakistan indulged in verbal sparring over the pitch prepared for the first cricket Test starting here on Thursday.

Waugh slammed Younis' statement at a press briefing on Tuesday evening that the Sri Lankan groundsmen should prepare a wicket that suits his team since it was Pakistan's home series. 

The three-match series, originally scheduled to be played in Pakistan, was shifted to neutral venues in Colombo and Sharjah after Australia declined to tour Pakistan for security concerns. 

"It is not good for the game that a wicket should be prepared to suit one team," Waugh told reporters on Wednesday. 

Told of Waugh's objections, Younis said the Australian captain was either scared or beginning to feel the pressure of retaining his place in the side. 

"What's wrong if I ask for a pitch that suits us," he said. "Its supposed to be our home series and we should have some advantage. 

"Does'nt Australia want wickets that suit them when they play at home? 

"I think the pressure is getting to Steve. He's a bit worried and that can only be good for us." 

Waugh, 37, who has been dropped from Australia's one-day team, has not yet been appointed captain for the Ashes clash against England starting next month amid speculation the selectors were concerned about the batting form of Waugh and his twin brother Mark. 

The wicket at the Tamil Union ground, the venue for the first Test, appeared hard enough to indicate it will aid fast bowlers on the first morning.

Australia are likely to field a three-man pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.

Pakistan also has three new ball bowlers in Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq and Younis himself, suppported by spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria.

Younis denied reports that Pakistan had flown in a groundsman from Lahore to prepare the wicket for the first Test.