Pakistan Cricket Board brands report as 'fake'

The Pakistan Cricket Board has strongly denied press reports alleging that excerpts from the the Team Manager's report were deliberately leaked out by Board officials.

In a statement released by the PCB, Fakir Aizazuddin, Manager of the Pakistan cricket team said: "On my return from New Zealand this evening, I have been told of a report supposed to have been written by me and sent to the Board published by an English Daily - The Dawn. I have neither written the official tour report yet, nor sent to the Cricket Board and therefore the report published by the newspaper is a fake".

A PCB spokesman added that the Manager's report had not been received by the PCB Headquarters, and that they are therefore in no position to verify or comment on the published reports.

It follows claims in the Dawn newspaper that the PCB deliberately released selected portions of manager Fakir Aizazuddin's report, which allegedly shows that the coach, Javed Miandad, and other senior players were responsible for Pakistan's disappointing performance in New Zealand.

Published excerpts of the report also indicate differences between the coach and the players. "Although Miandad wanted to combine the players' efforts, talent and experience, the senior members of the side gave little thoughts to his words," an excerpt said.

A further excerpt described Moin Khan as a poor captain, saying that he "lacked initiative and was uncomfortable with the administrators of the game, Khan is sure that his career is over."

The manager is also alleged to have criticised the legendary pace bowler Wasim Akram. "Akram at times played irresponsible cricket and has to change his attitude," he said. But he praised Akram's pace partner Waqar Younis as "honest and cooperative with everyone."

New Zealand secured their biggest-ever Test victory on Friday when they crushed Pakistan by an innings and 185 runs at Hamilton, to level the three Test series 1-1.

The PCB's advisory council is due to meet on Tuesday to announce a captain and discuss the squad for a tri-series starting in Gulf emirate of Sharjah on the 8th April.