Team morale cause of defeat: Miandad, Aizazuddin
Manager Faqir Aizazuddin and coach Javed Miandad have attributed the cause of Pakistan's dismal performance in New Zealand to the decline of the team's morale
Muhammad Yaqoob
03-Apr-2001
Manager Faqir Aizazuddin and coach Javed Miandad have attributed the
cause of Pakistan's dismal performance in New Zealand to the decline
of the team's morale.
However, the stand-in captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, disagreed with the
opinion of the officials and claimed that the setback was due to
injuries to the key-players. Inzamam had to lead the team in the third
and final Test at Hamilton in which Pakistan suffered a humiliating
defeat.
The officials were speaking to newsmen on arrival at Lahore airport on
Monday afternoon. The Pakistan team lost the one-day international
series against New Zealand 2-3 and drew the three-Test rubber 1-1.
Aizazuddin said that obviously the innings defeat in the third Test
had a very negative impact on the minds of the players.
"What a pity as the team looked strong on paper, but the players
failed to deliver at crucial stages of the important matches of the
tour", said Miandad.
Inzamam while admitting that the team had failed to live up to the
expectations of the nation added that the lost confidence would soon
be restored.
The coach and manager both agreed that the injuries to some important
players were also a major cause of the team's poor performance against
the Kiwis.
Responding to queries concerning groupings among the team members and
dissent Inzaman dismissed these allegations as a part of a
disinformation campaign launched by "vested interests".
The manager said that return of Wasim Akram to Pakistan was a great
loss for the touring party and injuries to Saeed Anwar, Abdur Razzaq
and Mohammad Sami multiplied our "woes".
Talking about the positive aspects of the tour, the three officials
said that the performance of the youngsters was "heart-warming" and
that augurs well for the future of Pakistan cricket.
Except for off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq all the members of the team
have reached Pakistan.