November 22 Friday 2002
'Waqar, Saeed must prove fitness for World Cup selection'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, said here on Thursday that fitness level of skipper Waqar Younis and seasoned opener Saeed Anwer has to be up to the mark for the World Cup and only that will determine their future in the Pakistan team.

"My understanding with Waqar Younis is that he will be retained from series to serie," Tauqir Zia said while talking to newsmen at a Iftar dinner. "Now, we will have to see how fit he keeps himself from now till the World Cup. You people must keep in mind that Pakistan has to play at least ten One-Day Internationals between now and the World Cup and we will see the fitness of everybody, including Waqar Younis, during this period,"said the General.

He observed that the World Cup probables will not figure in all the one-dayers till the big event to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. "Playing them in all the matches before the World Cup will tantamount to wearing them out and we do not want that. We have a whole scenario in mind as to which player has to play how many games before we judge his form and fitness," said the board chairman.

To a question, he lauded the Pakistan team's 2-0 clean-sweep of the Test series in Zimbabwe but remarked that their real test will come in the upcoming tour of South Africa. "There are ups and downs in Pakistan team's performance but overall this team is good though they will have to show their best in South Africa after demolition of Zimbabwe," he added. He said the team for the tour of South Africa as well as for the World Cup will be named at a PCB selection committee meeting on November 28. "Some boys are currently in action in the Ramazan Cup one-day tournament after which the team will be announced."

He observed that Pakistan had found a reliable opener in Taufeeq Umer during the Zimbabwe tour and Taufeeq as well as a good wicketkeeper in Kamran Akmal.

"I have told coach Richard Pybus and skipper Waqar Younis to closely judge the players' performances from game to game", he said. "Some players like Saeed Anwar want to come back but they will have to prove their fitness", he said.

To a question, Tauqir Zia said some sponsors had come forward for building a cricket stadium in Islamabad but "first, I will have to sort out lease-of-land matters with CDA and Islamabad Cricket Association."

Also attending the Iftar dinner were PCB Media Manager, Samiul Hassan Burney, ex-Secretary Asian Cricket Council, Zakir Hussain Syed, and PCB Media Coordinator, Ehteshamul Haq.