October 14 Monday 2002
Top Pakistani officials resign after test debacle 

ISLAMABAD: The director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday he and PCB chairman General Tauqir Zia had resigned after Saturday's second test debacle in Sharjah where Australia swept to an innings and 198-run victory. "We handed in our resignation last night," Chishty Mujahid said by telephone from Karachi. 

Pakistan were heavily criticised by local newspapers on Sunday after being dismissed for a match total of just 112 runs -- the fourth worst in test history. Their first innings of 59 on Friday was a record low for the country in a test, but that mark lasted for only one day. After Australia had made 310 in reply, Pakistan were skittled for just 53 in their second innings. The crushing defeat, which gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-test series, followed a disappointing spell for the Pakistan team in both test and one-day cricket. 

On Saturday, Mujahid had suggested injuries and a lack of experience were factors behind the heavy Sharjah reverse. "It is very disappointing... and I'm being polite here," he said. "But that's how cricket is." "You saw the same young batsmen scare the caps off of the Australians in Colombo. I can't think of any reason why they should have collapsed the way they did in Sharjah but I'd put it down to a combined lack of experience." Saturday's defeat in the United Arab Emirates prompted an editorial in a leading English-language daily blaming the PCB for not doing enough in recent years to encourage young talent. 

Pakistani cricket is not only facing a crisis on the pitch. Security concerns in the south Asian state of 140 million have led to a string of touring sides refusing to play in Pakistan, denying fans the opportunity to see their team and starving the PCB of millions of dollars in revenue. Pakistan has been hit by a wave of anti-Western and anti-Christian violence blamed on extremist Islamic groups angered by President Pervez Musharraf's decision to back the U.S.-led "war on terror".