Yawar Saeed denies resignation rumours
The one-day series that appeared to have everything was spared another sideshow when Yawar Saeed, the Pakistan team manager, denied that he was quitting on the eve of the final match of a drama-filled tour.
It has been a gripping tale that has been played out over a number of days, which is building to a pot-boiler of a finish. Oh, and they have been playing some cricket too.
In any other circumstances the NatWest series between England and Pakistan would have gone down as one of the most thrilling in recent seasons, with Pakistan improbably clawing their way back from a 2-0 deficit to go to the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rose-c86842 Bowl, for the deciding match, level after their 38-run win at Lord’s on Monday.
Except that the series has taken a back seat as it vies for attention with the story of spot-fixing, allegations of corruption and a deterioration of relations between both countries that may take some time to heal.
The week had started badly enough after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128, the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, had accused England players of taking “enormous amounts of money” in return for manipulating the results of the third one-day international between the teams at The Oval on Friday. It then moved through various stages of conduct that would have been considered probably unthinkable less than a month ago.
The England and Wales Cricket Board felt moved to issue a statement on the subject and chief executive David Collier criticised his counterpart for going public with his claims, which appear to be based on nothing more than “gossip” from within the illegal bookmaking world in the subcontinent. Andrew Strauss, the England captain, for once eschewed the diplomatic stance that comes with that role to say that the possibility of legal action against Butt was still being considered. "Absolutely, we are going to explore every avenue available to us to make sure our names aren't sullied in this manner," he said.
Throw in the unsavoury spat between Jonathan Trott and Wahab Riaz, when the two squared up to one another in the nets before the Lord’s match and this series had the lot. Well, almost.
Pre-match days are usually given over to team news but Pakistan’s team manager found himself having to deal with questions over his own future after news began to circulate that he had resigned. However, Saeed denied that he was going to be anywhere other than the Pakistan dressing room tomorrow.
“I have not resigned, I am not resigning and I will not resign tomorrow,” he said.
Asked about the source of these rumours, Saeed answered: “I have no idea. I am just a human being – I don’t know what is going on. I have not resigned – that’s as clearly as I can tell you.”
The management of the Pakistan team have attempted to distance themselves from the comments that Butt has made over possible corruption by England players and, when he was asked about those comments, Saeed said: “I am not going to comment on that. I’m a very simple person – I’ll stay in my domain.
“I am the manager of the team. Other than that – chairman of the PCB, chairman of the ECB – I’m not going to comment on that. I’m not responsible for the chairman’s comments.”
However, those comments from Butt, along with the string of lurid headlines that have dogged the Pakistan team since the first spot-fixing stories hit the world before the final day of the last Test in August. But Saeed, understandably, defended his team, which appears to be thriving in such adversity at a time when England appear to be wilting just be standing so close to the fire.
“That’s not my team’s fault. What do I do? The team is all right, they will play tomorrow, they are concentrating, they are focussed and they are a team.”
However, those comments from Butt, along with the string of lurid headlines that have dogged the Pakistan team since the first spot-fixing stories hit the world before the final day of the last Test in August. But Saeed, understandably, defended his team, which appears to be thriving in such adversity at a time when England appear to be wilting just be standing so close to the fire.
“That’s not my team’s fault. What do I do? The team is all right, they will play tomorrow, they are concentrating, they are focussed and they are a team.”
Mercifully, for a few hours at least, the focus will switch to the pitch and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 appear to have recaptured the “wounded tiger” spirit that Imran Khan drew from another team to win the World Cup in 1992.
“I think, because it’s a decider, because of what’s going on we are determined to win. And we shall, play good cricket and try and win this game.”
Prediction: From looking whitewash material a week ago, Pakistan may just pull off an improbable series win.
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