October 04 Friday 2002
'Waugh wanted toss scrapped for Pakistan Test'

MELBOURNE: Australia captain Steve Waugh wanted the toss to be scrapped for Thursday's first Test against Pakistan after rival captain Waqar Younis said he had asked for the pitch to suit Pakistan, Australian media reported.

The three-match series is being played at neutral venues, in Colombo for the first Test and Sharjah for the next two, because of security fears.

"If they say they are going to make pitches to suit the home team, the opposition team should have a choice of doing what they want at the toss. I think that's only fair," Waugh was quoted as saying in 'The Australian' newspaper on Thursday. "Test cricket is about giving everyone the chance to do well at that level rather than just once certain type of player.

"It is not good for the game that a pitch should be prepared to suit one team."

Waqar was quoted in 'The Age' newspaper as saying: "We've got a management here (in Colombo). They'll be preparing the pitch, so they'll probably prepare the track to suits us, hopefully."

ABC Radio said upon hearing of Waugh's complaint, Waqar had said the 37-year-old veteran, dropped earlier this year from the one-day team, was feeling the pressure of retaining his place in the Test side. "What's wrong if I ask for a pitch that suits us?" ABC Radio quoted Waqar as saying. "It's supposed to be our home series and we should have some advantage. Don't Australia want pitches 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 said if he had made comments like Waqar's about pitch preparations it would have raised eyebrows. "I think you should play cricket on the pitch served up to you," he was quoted as saying in The Australian. "I've never asked for a pitch to suit and I don't know any Australian, certainly in my time, that's ever done that in Australia. So I don't see why it should be done overseas."