LAHORE-
The Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar Khan told media here that former captain of Pakistani cricket team Imran Khan has been unable to take time out from his busy schedule to meet up with the World Cup bound Pakistan squad members and give the players a lecture and pep talk,Indian news agency (Press trust of India) reported.
Khan said that he has requested the former captain to spare time for the players but “unfortunately he has not been able to give us time and we were told that if the team went to Islamabad he could try to meet them for a while.”
Imran was captain of the team that surprised everyone by winning the World Cup in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand.
Khan said that the players were very keen to meet with Imran before flying off for the World Cup but unfortunately he is very busy right now. The cricketer turned politician who also recently got married a second time is revered and respected by players of the present generation and team who were keen to meet with him to talk to him about the World Cup before going to Australia and New Zealand.
“Imran is a busy man these days and couldn’t spare time to come down to Lahore for a few hours,” another board official said.
The Pakistan squad embarked on their World Cup campaign on Tuesday night from Lahore and will play two one-day internationals against New Zealand on January 31st and February 3rd before flying to Australia for their warm up games.
Khan said the team would have short conditioning camps in New Zealand and Australia to acclimatize to the conditions there.
“I have told the players that if they win the World Cup we will reward them handsomely. What every Pakistani wants from them is 100 per cent effort. In cricket nothing is impossible and we have won ICC events in the past as well,” he said.
In another news, the Pakistani squad has been banned from using social networking sites during the tournament.
Team manager, Naved Akram Cheema confirmed on Tuesday that as part of their central contracts, players would not be allowed to use any social networking site on the coming tour to New Zealand and in the World Cup.
“These players have been selected to represent their country in the biggest event of the cricket world and they need to give 100 percent and remain focused on their game that is why we have imposed this restriction so that they are not distracted,” said Team manager, Naved Akram Cheema.
Pakistan cricket Board had also decided that families of the players would not be allowed to accompany and stay with them in the World Cup, he added.
“They are allowed to have their families with them in New Zealand but for the World Cup families are not allowed to stay with them,” he said.
